The Hindu BusinessLine reported that India may formally adopt gene editing by mentioning it in the proposed Seed Bill — either through the main Bill or in the Rules — if the government accepts experts' suggestions. The move is intended to avoid the experience with genetically modified (GM) crops, which have not been permitted for commercial cultivation in any food crop since GM technology was released in India in 2002 for cotton.
Seed Bill status and public consultation
According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the government has finalised the Seed Bill, and its introduction in Parliament is awaiting political approval. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said both the Seed Bill and the Pesticide Management Bill are ready to be placed before the House. The draft Seed Bill was published for public feedback in November 2025, and the agriculture ministry received over 14,000 suggestions/views within a 30-day deadline.
The private sector is keen to secure legal backing for gene editing, citing that ICAR's two rice varieties are yet to be commercially released, The Hindu BusinessLine reported.
Industry report recommends scaling gene editing
Industry body ASSOCHAM, in partnership with Grant Thornton Bharat, released a report titled "Seeds of Progress: Advancing Global Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Agriculture" on Monday, suggesting that gene editing, among other measures, should be scaled up.
The report said:
"Scale advanced breeding technologies, including molecular breeding, genomic selection, gene editing, speed breeding, digital phenotyping and Artificial Intelligence-enabled breeding analytics to shorten the 10–15-year varietal development cycle and improve genetic gain."
The ASSOCHAM report did not mention GM technology and instead focused on gene editing, stating:
"Increased investment in molecular breeding, biotechnology (BT), digital breeding tools and climate-resilient genetics will be essential if India has to compete in an increasingly innovation-driven global seed economy."
Opposition to 'transgenic' language
The path to legal backing faces resistance. Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), an RSS-affiliated farmers' organisation, has objected to the word "transgenic" in the draft Bill and demanded its removal. In its submission to the government, BKS said:
"The term 'transgenic' (referring to definitions under 2-zj-iii) shall be deleted from the document. Any form of transgenic or genetically modified seed shall not be taken into consideration."
Sources cited by The Hindu BusinessLine said it is very difficult for the government to accept the gene-editing suggestion because of BKS's objection.
Cotton imports and next-generation GM
R S Paroda, founder chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) and a former director-general of ICAR, expressed concern over rising cotton imports and argued for adopting next-generation GM technologies. In a statement on July 31, Paroda said:
"India's cotton sector has been steadily losing its global leadership over the last few years. Rising import dependence in a crop where India was the world's largest producer till 2014 and the second-largest exporter underscores the urgent need to embrace next-generation GM technologies through science-based regulatory reforms, and to establish a long-term policy framework that can revive both our productivity and global standing."
Paroda added that increasing dependence on cotton imports exposes India to unnecessary geopolitical and market risks.
Round table on GM and genome-edited crops
On July 26, a high-level round table on "Reforms in the Regulation and Approval of Genetically Modified (GM) and Genome-Edited (GE) Crop Plants" was organised by TAAS in collaboration with ICAR and the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII). The Hindu BusinessLine reported that a press release issued by the Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Ministry on the deliberations was later withdrawn due to the sensitivity of the issue.
At the round table, ICAR's Director-General M L Jat reiterated ICAR's unwavering commitment to advancing science-driven, evidence-based agricultural innovation and stressed the need for a balanced regulatory system that facilitates safe access to modern biotechnology information to achieve food and nutrition security, climate resilience and sustainable agricultural development.
Stakeholder positions at a glance
| Stakeholder | Position |
|---|---|
| Bharatiya Kisan Sangh | Demands deletion of the term "transgenic" from the Seed Bill; opposes any transgenic or GM seed |
| ASSOCHAM & Grant Thornton Bharat | Recommend scaling gene editing and other advanced breeding technologies |
| R S Paroda / TAAS | Calls for next-generation GM technologies and science-based regulatory reforms for cotton |
| ICAR | Committed to science-driven innovation; seeks a balanced regulatory system |
The legal recognition of gene editing in the Seed Bill would, according to the ASSOCHAM report, help shorten the 10–15-year varietal development cycle and improve genetic gain. For seed companies and exporters, the final language of the Bill will define the regulatory boundary between conventional breeding, gene editing and GM technology — a distinction that will shape varietal release timelines and market access for Indian seeds.
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