Concerns Raised Over ICAR’s Genome-Edited Rice Trials: Coalition for a GM-Free India Seeks Review
31 October 2025, New Delhi: The Coalition for a GM-Free India has raised concerns over the scientific process and data reporting in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) field trials of genome-edited rice varieties Pusa DST-1 and DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala). No official statement has been issued by ICAR or the Ministry of Agriculture so far.
Citing ICAR’s Annual Progress Reports (2023 and 2024) under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice (AICRPR), the Coalition said that certain trial results and conclusions appeared inconsistent. It claimed that the reported yield and performance benefits of the two rice varieties were not fully supported by the detailed data available in the public domain.
According to the Coalition, Pusa DST-1 did not consistently show yield advantages in the reported trials, while DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) was said to have been evaluated using selective data from limited locations. The group stated that these issues raise questions about data transparency and interpretation.
Activist Kavitha Kuruganti said the matter calls for closer scrutiny to maintain public trust in agricultural research. The Coalition has called for a transparent, independent review of ICAR’s genome-editing trials and data verification, along with clear communication to the public on the methodology and findings.
The group also recommended strengthening biosafety protocols and regulatory oversight for future research on genome-edited crops to ensure scientific integrity and farmer safety.
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