UPSC GS Paper III: Agriculture - Agricultural Technology GM Crops Zero Budget Farming

Must‑Know

• Bt cotton – first and only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in India (2002), developed by Mahyco in collaboration with Monsanto, expresses Cry1Ac gene toxic to bollworm.
• Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) – apex body under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, responsible for approving commercial release of GM organisms; functions under MoEF&CC.
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2003) – international agreement under CBD; India ratified in 2003; governs transboundary movement of LMOs (Living Modified Organisms).
• Bt brinjal – developed by Mahyco; recommended for commercialization by GEAC in 2009; moratorium imposed by MoEF&CC in 2010 due to safety and socio-economic concerns.
• DMH-11 mustard – transgenic mustard developed by Deepak Pental, University of Delhi; contains barnase, barstar, and bar genes; application for commercial release pending with GEAC since 2013.
• Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 – notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; regulatory framework for GM crops.
• Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSCs) – mandatory for institutions handling GM research; monitor safety compliance at institutional level; report to Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM).
• Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) – functions under Department of Biotechnology; monitors ongoing research in GM organisms up to field trials.
• National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) – maintains National Gene Bank; responsible for conservation of plant genetic resources including wild relatives of crops.
• Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) – promoted by Karnataka farmer Subhash Palekar; four pillars: jeevamrutha, bijamrita, acchadana (mulching), and whapasa (soil aeration with moisture).
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) – launched 2015–16 under Soil Health Management; supports organic farming through cluster-based certification; budget allocation ₹414 crore (2023–24).
• Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER) – launched 2015; supports farmers and entrepreneurs in organic value chain; implemented by NABARD.
• SRI (System of Rice Intensification) – agro-ecological methodology developed in Madagascar (1983); adopted in Tamil Nadu; reduces seed and water use, increases yields through wider spacing and early transplanting.
• ICAR’s National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) – launched 2011; focuses on climate-smart technologies including drought-tolerant varieties and resource conservation.
• Green Revolution – began 1960s; introduced HYVs of wheat (Kalyan Sona, Sonalika) and rice (IR36); led by M.S. Swaminathan; focused on Punjab, Haryana, western UP.
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) – component of National Action Plan on Climate Change (2011); promotes rainwater harvesting, soil health management, and on-farm energy conservation.
• BHU’s Natural Farming – Banaras Hindu University initiated research on natural farming; validated reduced costs and improved soil health in Varanasi trials (2020–22).
• Gene Silencing Technology – used in developing virus-resistant papaya; not yet approved in India; differs from Bt technology which expresses insecticidal proteins.
• Genome Editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9) – not classified as GM under current Indian rules if no foreign DNA is inserted; subject to ongoing regulatory debate (2022–23).
• India’s GM crop area – 12.6 million hectares (2023), all Bt cotton; ranks 5th globally in GM crop area (ISAAA data).
• GEAC functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; RCGM under Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
• ZBNF claims to eliminate need for credit by reducing input costs; lacks large-scale peer-reviewed validation; supported in Andhra Pradesh (500,000 farmers, 2022).
• ICAR released 176 bio-pesticides and 109 bio-fertilizers (2023); part of push toward sustainable inputs.
• National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) – includes Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material; supports foundation seed production and quality control.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires understanding of regulatory processes, scientific principles, and policy implementation; questions often mix facts with current developments.

Common UPSC Traps

Trap: Bt brinjal is approved for cultivation in India – Fact: GEAC recommended approval in 2009, but Union Government imposed indefinite moratorium in 2010; not approved (MoEF&CC notification).
Trap: ZBNF is a government-mandated farming system across India – Fact: ZBNF is promoted in select states (e.g., Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka); not a central government mandate; PKVY supports organic farming, not exclusively ZBNF.
Trap: GEAC approves field trials of GM crops – Fact: RCGM approves confined field trials up to Phase II; GEAC approves large-scale trials and commercial release.
Trap: CRISPR-edited crops are treated as GM crops in India – Fact: In 2022, MoEF&CC exempted certain genome-edited crops (SDN-1, SDN-2) from GM rules if no foreign DNA; subject to guidelines by DBT.
Trap: India has approved GM food crops – Fact: No GM food crop is approved for commercial cultivation; DMH-11 mustard is pending; Bt cotton is non-food (fiber).

Practice MCQs

Question: Which of the following statements about the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is correct?
A) It functions under the Department of Biotechnology.
B) It is the final authority for approving commercial release of GM crops in India.
C) It was established under the Seeds Act, 1966.
D) It conducts field trials of genetically modified organisms.
Answer: B
Explanation: GEAC, under MoEF&CC and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is the final authority for commercial release of GM crops.
Why others fail: A is wrong because GEAC is under MoEF&CC, not DBT; RCGM under DBT monitors research.

Question: The 'Cartagena Protocol' is primarily related to:
A) Conservation of agricultural biodiversity
B) Biosafety in transboundary movement of living modified organisms
C) Intellectual property rights for plant varieties
D) International trade in organic products
Answer: B
Explanation: Cartagena Protocol (2003) is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity focusing on biosafety of LMOs.
Why others fail: A refers to CBD broadly; C relates to UPOV and TRIPS; D is covered by IFOAM standards.

Question: Which of the following are components of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)?
1. Jeevamrutha
2. Neem-coated urea
3. Whapasa
4. System of Rice Intensification
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A) 1 and 3 only
B) 1, 2 and 3
C) 2 and 4 only
D) 1, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: ZBNF includes jeevamrutha (microbial culture), bijamrita, acchadana, and whapasa; neem-coated urea and SRI are separate initiatives.
Why others fail: Neem-coated urea is a government input policy; SRI is a water-saving rice method, not part of ZBNF.

Question: Consider the following statements:
1. DMH-11 is a genetically modified mustard variety.
2. It was developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
3. It is the first GM food crop recommended for commercial release in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Explanation: DMH-11 is GM mustard developed by University of Delhi (not ICAR); first food crop recommended by GEAC (2013, 2022).
Why others fail: Statement 2 is incorrect – development was by DU scientist, though ICAR conducted biosafety tests.

Question: The 'Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana' (PKVY) is implemented under which of the following missions?
A) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
B) National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm
C) National Mission for Horticulture
D) National Mission for Silkworm Development
Answer: A
Explanation: PKVY is a component of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) under umbrella of National Action Plan on Climate Change.
Why others fail: PKVY focuses on organic farming and soil health, aligned with NMSA objectives, not oilseeds or horticulture missions.

Last‑Minute Revision

• ⚠️ Bt cotton is the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in India (2002).
• GEAC – final authority for GM crop release; under MoEF&CC.
• RCGM – monitors GM research; under DBT.
• Cartagena Protocol – 2003; biosafety; India ratified 2003.
• Bt brinjal – GEAC approved 2009; moratorium by MoEF&CC 2010.
• DMH-11 – transgenic mustard; developed by DU scientist Deepak Pental.
• ZBNF – four pillars: jeevamrutha, bijamrita, acchadana, whapasa.
• Subhash Palekar – promoter of ZBNF.
• PKVY – launched 2015–16; organic farming clusters.
• MOVCDNER – NABARD implements; North East organic value chain.
• SRI – developed in Madagascar (1983); adopted in Tamil Nadu.
• NICRA – launched 2011; climate-resilient agriculture.
• Green Revolution – 1960s; M.S. Swaminathan; HYVs of wheat and rice.
• NMSA – component of NAPCC (2011).
• ⚠️ No GM food crop approved in India.
• Genome editing (CRISPR) – not treated as GM if no foreign DNA (2022 MoEF&CC clarification).
• ISAAA – International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications; publishes global GM crop data.
• India’s GM area – 12.6 million ha (2023); all Bt cotton.
• ICAR – released 176 bio-pesticides (2023).
• National Gene Bank – maintained by NBPGR, New Delhi.
• Rules 1989 – under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; govern GM organisms.
• IBSC – mandatory for institutions doing GM research.
• ⚠️ GEAC does not approve initial field trials – RCGM does.
• Whapasa – condition of soil with both air and moisture; key to ZBNF.
• AP government’s Rythu Sadhikara Samstha – implements ZBNF in Andhra Pradesh.
• Verify from standard source: exact number of ZBNF farmers in Andhra Pradesh.