Up to 30% of cotton area under ‘illegal’ GM hybrids, finds study

Agriculture & Science & Technology · 8 October 2026 · Based on Indian Express (original report)

Worth reading — New development — both a Prelims fact and a Mains debate, no past question yet.

2-minute summary

A field-based study commissioned by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and the National Seed Association of India (NSAI) reveals that 24% to 30% of India's cotton cultivation area—spanning 26.2 to 29 lakh hectares out of 114.8 lakh hectares in 2025-26—is under unapproved, illegal genetically modified (GM) hybrid varieties. The study, analysing 227 geo-tagged samples across 16 hotspot districts in Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan, found widespread adoption of unauthorised herbicide-tolerant (HT) cp4-epsps genes (present in 72.69% of samples) and next-generation insect-resistance Vip3A genes. Farmers are increasingly adopting illegal HTBt seeds to combat acute labour shortages and high manual weeding costs through glyphosate-based weed management, despite the fact that India currently only legally permits cultivation of GM cotton hybrids carrying two Bt genes (cry1Ac and cry2Ab). This black-market seed expansion, valued conservatively at Rs 820-880 crore, bypasses India's established biosafety and regulatory approval mechanisms governed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Why it's in the news

A comprehensive study by seed industry associations has revealed that nearly 30% of India's cotton farming area is cultivated using unapproved genetically modified (GM) hybrid seeds, highlighting major enforcement gaps in India's biosafety regulatory framework and driving urgent debates over approving Herbicide-Tolerant (HT) crops.

Facts to remember

• India currently officially permits farmers to grow GM cotton hybrids containing only two genes: cry1Ac and cry2Ab.
• The unauthorised HT cp4-epsps gene was found in 72.69% of the field samples tested in the FSII-NSAI study.
• Out of 114.8 lakh hectares sown under cotton in 2025-26, an estimated 24% to 30% was under illegal GM hybrids.
• The unapproved HTBt seed market in India is estimated to have expanded to 82-88 lakh packets, valued at Rs 820-880 crore.
• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the apex body for approving commercial release of GM crops in India.

Background and context

Genetically modified (GM) cotton is currently the only transgenic crop commercially approved for cultivation in India, introduced initially in 2002 via Bt cotton hybrids expressing cry genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to combat the American bollworm. While first-generation Bt technology successfully controlled bollworms initially, target pests have shown increasing resistance over time, notably the pink bollworm. Furthermore, severe rural labour shortages and surging manual weeding costs have driven farmers to seek herbicide-tolerant (HT) traits that allow chemical spraying using glyphosate. However, the commercial release of Herbicide-Tolerant Bt (HTBt) cotton and cotton containing Vip3A genes has faced prolonged regulatory freezes by the central government due to ecological concerns regarding gene flow to wild relatives, weed resistance ('superweeds'), and potential health impacts. This regulatory bottleneck has fostered a flourishing grey market, where unauthorized seed developers and a sophisticated illicit supply chain distribute unapproved GM seeds directly to farmers.

Constitutional provisions

• Article 48A — Directs the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country, which forms the constitutional basis for regulating genetically modified organisms.
• Entry 14 of List II (State List) / Entry 52 & 53 of List I — Agriculture is a State subject, but regulation of hazardous industries, toxic substances, and genetically modified organisms falls under Union jurisdiction via environmental laws.

Committees and reports

• Federation of Seed Industry of India and National Seed Association of India study highlighting that 24-30% of India's cotton area is under illegal HTBt and Vip3A hybrids. — Exposes the widespread adoption of unapproved GM crop varieties across key states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Government schemes

• Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare — A policy initiative aimed at addressing structural challenges in cotton production, including seed quality, soil health, and pest management.

Mains practice: Examine the socio-economic drivers behind the proliferation of illegal genetically modified crops in India. What are the regulatory and environmental challenges posed by unapproved transgenic traits?

The widespread cultivation of unapproved genetically modified (GM) crops, with up to 30% of India's cotton area under illegal Herbicide-Tolerant Bt (HTBt) and Vip3A hybrids as revealed by recent industry studies, underscores a critical disconnect between agricultural realities and regulatory enforcement.

• Socio-Economic Drivers: Acute agrarian distress, driven by soaring manual weeding costs (Rs 12,000–15,000 per acre) and severe rural labour shortages, has pushed farmers toward glyphosate-based weed management. Illegal HT seeds offer a low-cost chemical alternative (Rs 750–850 per acre), while Vip3A hybrids provide vital resistance against mounting pink bollworm infestations as first-generation Bt strains lose efficacy.

• Regulatory and Biosafety Bottlenecks: The statutory approval process governed by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, has faced prolonged policy delays for transgenic traits like HT. This regulatory vacuum has allowed a sophisticated black-market seed network, valued at over Rs 800 crore, to bypass established safety protocols.

• Environmental and Ecological Risks: Unregulated cultivation of herbicide-tolerant crops risks the emergence of herbicide-resistant 'superweeds' due to indiscriminate glyphosate spraying. Furthermore, uncontrolled gene flow from unapproved transgenic varieties to wild relatives threatens domestic biodiversity and agrarian soil micro-flora.

• Governance and Enforcement Deficits: State-level seed inspectorate machinery often lacks the technical capacity and resources to monitor illicit seed supply chains, leading to weak enforcement of the Seeds Act, 1966 and the EPA, 1986.

Way Forward:

• Streamline regulatory assessments by adopting transparent, science-based, and time-bound approval protocols for safe GM technologies through GEAC.

• Strengthen state-level enforcement and seed certification mechanisms to crack down on illicit supply networks.

• Promote integrated pest and weed management practices alongside affordable farm mechanization to reduce dependency on chemical herbicides.

• Empower agricultural universities and public research institutions to develop indigenous, legally compliant climate-resilient crop varieties.

Conclusion:

Bridging the gap between agricultural innovation and regulatory governance is vital to ensure sustainable productivity, protect farmer livelihoods, and uphold India's ecological security in alignment with SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Prelims practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Genetically Modified (GM) crop regulation and cultivation in India: 1. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Bt cotton containing cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes is currently the only transgenic crop commercially approved for cultivation in India. 3. Herbicide-Tolerant Bt (HTBt) cotton varieties incorporating the cp4-epsps gene have been officially granted nationwide commercial clearance by the Union Government. How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Answer: B. Statement 1 is correct: The GEAC is the apex regulatory body functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for approving GM crops. Statement 2 is correct: Bt cotton containing cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes remains the only legally approved GM crop for commercial cultivation in India. Statement 3 is incorrect: HTBt cotton containing the cp4-epsps gene has not been approved by the government and is cultivated illegally.

Q2. With reference to the recent findings on illegal GM cotton cultivation in India, consider the following statements: 1. The cp4-epsps gene found in unauthorized field samples provides tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate. 2. The Vip3A gene is a next-generation insect-resistance gene derived from Bacillus thuringiensis to target bollworms. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C. Statement 1 is correct: The cp4-epsps gene sourced from agrobacterium makes cotton plants tolerant to glyphosate herbicide. Statement 2 is correct: The Vip3A gene is derived from Bt and effectively controls a broader spectrum of bollworm larvae, addressing resistance in first-generation Bt hybrids.

Q3. Which one of the following statutory bodies is legally mandated to appraise and approve proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment in India?

1. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
2. National Biodiversity Authority
3. Indian Council of Agricultural Research
4. Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee

Answer: D. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), functioning under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 within the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is the statutory body mandated to appraise activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.

Revision flashcards

• Which statutory body in India is responsible for the approval of commercial release of Genetically Modified (GM) crops? The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Under which apex environmental legislation are genetically engineered organisms and hazardous microorganisms regulated in India? The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• What percentage of India's cotton cultivation area was estimated to be under illegal GM hybrids in 2025-26 according to the FSII-NSAI study? 24% to 30% (spanning 26.2 to 29 lakh hectares out of 114.8 lakh hectares).
• What specific gene responsible for glyphosate herbicide tolerance was found in 72.69% of tested unauthorized cotton field samples in 2026? The cp4-epsps gene.
• Why are Indian cotton farmers increasingly adopting unauthorized Herbicide-Tolerant Bt (HTBt) seeds despite government restrictions? To combat acute rural labour shortages and significantly reduce manual weeding costs through chemical weed management using glyphosate.