India has become the first country in the world to unveil genome-edited rice varieties- DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1- that deliver 25–30% higher yields without introducing foreign DNA. These non-GMO crops are aimed at boosting productivity, reducing emissions, saving water, and transforming Indian agriculture.
Key Highlights
- Developed by:
- DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala): Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad
- Pusa DST Rice 1: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi
- Commercial cultivation timeline: 4–5 years
- Global significance:
- World’s first genome-edited rice varieties
- Expected to replace widely grown varieties like Samba Mahsuri and Cottondora Sannalu (grown over 9 million hectares in India)
- Target states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal
Scientific & Technical Details
- Technology used:
- CRISPR-Cas9 system
- SDN-1 technology (site-directed nuclease-1)- makes precise edits in native DNA without adding foreign genes
- Regulatory status:
- Exempt from approval by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under India’s relaxed rules (SDN-1, SDN-2 exempted since 2022)
- Approved by: Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) and Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (clearance on 31 May 2023)
- Performance in Trials:
- Tested under All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice (kharif 2023 & 2024)
- Showed strong yield performance under stress conditions
- Drought and disease tolerance
Agronomic Benefits
- Yield gains:
- DRR Dhan 100: 5.37 tonnes/ha vs. 4.5 tonnes/ha of parent Samba Mahsuri; High potential yield (~9 tonnes/hectare); Maturity: in 130 days (15–20 days earlier);
- Pusa DST Rice 1: ~3.5 tonnes/ha more than parent variety
- Environmental gains (in ~5 million hectares):
- Additional paddy production: 4.5 million tonnes
- Greenhouse gas emissions cut by 20% (32,000 tonnes)
- Water savings: 7,500 million cubic metres (usable for other crops)
- Grain quality: No compromise reported
Strategic Vision
- “Minus 5 and Plus 10” formula: Reduce rice area by 5 million hectares and increase production by 10 million tonnes to free land for pulses and oilseeds
- Pipeline crops: Genome-edited banana, wheat, tomato, tur, cotton under development in India
- Budget support: ₹500 crore (Budget 2023–24) allocated for genome editing in agriculture research across ~40 crops
Background & Policy Context
- Rice in India:
- Area: ~46 million hectares (kharif + rabi)
- 2023–24 output: 137 million tonnes
- 2nd largest rice producer
- Leading exporter since 2012; ~$12 billion rice exports in FY25
- Legal framework:
- In 2022, govt exempted SDN-1 & SDN-2 genome edits from Rules 7–11 of the Environment Protection Act
- Supreme Court has directed the government to create a national policy on genetically modified crops, which is under consultation
- ICAR’s Role:
- Started genome editing in 2018
- Cleared by Institutional Biosafety Committee & Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (May 2023)
- Global context:
- ~30 countries classify genome-edited crops as non-GMO
- US and China are leaders in genome-edited crops like rice, maize, soybean, canola, tomato
Criticism & Concerns
- Scientific concerns: Potential unintended DNA changes (large insertions, deletions, rearrangements)
- Regulatory concerns: Released without safety testing under India’s relaxed rules;
- IPR issues: Gene editing tools are proprietary, raising intellectual property rights (IPR) and seed sovereignty concerns
- ECJ 2018 ruling: European Court of Justice (ECJ) classifies genome-edited crops under GMO rules; India’s deregulation of SDN-1, SDN-2 seen as risky by critics
- Trade risks: Potential impact on rice export markets if buyers reject gene-edited products; Possible impact on India’s rice export reputation