(a) whether it is a fact that resilient and high-yield rice varieties would be available by the year 2024 developed by using gene editing techniques;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also true that the gene-editing guidelines are facing delay in the country;
(d) whether it is also true that a proposal from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is pending with an appraisal committee for almost two years; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
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ANSWER
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THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a) and (b): Rice varieties MTU1010, Swarna, Naveen and HKR127 have been edited for specific genes for drought and salt stress tolerance; and high yield. These new lines are at the stage of laboratory evaluation. For their release as new varieties, three years of field evaluation trial at multiple locations is required.
(c) to (e): The draft “Guidelines for Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants” is presently before Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for consideration.
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