Genetically Modified Crops in India: A SWOT-Based Assessment of Scientific, Regulatory and Socio-Political Barriers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17015490Keywords:
Genetically Modified Crops, Biosafety Regulation, India, SWOT AnalysisAbstract
The adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops remains one of the most contested issues in global agriculture. While countries such as the United States, Brazil, and China have embraced GM technologies, India has maintained a highly precautionary stance, approving only Bt cotton for commercial cultivation since 2002. This article examines the Indian GM crop debate through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) framework. The strengths of GM crops include higher yield potential, resistance to pests and diseases, reduced pesticide use, climate resilience, and nutritional biofortification. However, India’s internal weaknesses—such as inadequate biosafety infrastructure, fragmented regulation, limited transparency in field trials, reliance on multinational seed corporations, and knowledge gaps among farmers and consumers—have hindered progress. Despite opportunities for enhancing food security, reducing import dependence, and strengthening biotechnology leadership, the country faces persistent threats, including biodiversity loss, gene flow to wild relatives, ethical and cultural opposition, restrictive trade regimes, and judicial activism. Case studies of Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and GM mustard illustrate the complex interaction between science, politics, and law. The analysis concludes that advancing GM crops in India requires stronger biosafety systems, regulatory coherence, public engagement, and evidence-based policymaking to balance innovation with ecological and social safeguards.
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Copyright (c) 2025 D. Purushotama Rao, D. Adilakshmi, H. P. Chaturvedi, P.V. Padmavathi
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