The Environment Ministry has received a proposal for commercial cultivation of a GM hybrid variety of the mustard plant developed by the university's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP).
"Dr Pental made a presentation on GM mustard. Members raised some queries on methodology and other environmental issues. It was an initial discussion," said a senior government official, a member of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), after the meeting.
He termed it as "a good session". "We informed that GM mustard has potential to increase crop yield by 20-30 per cent. I believe we answered them satisfactorily. Let's see what they do," he said, adding that India also needs to fly the flag of technology.
"As a developer, I look forward to a positive decision as the technology is for the benefit of farmers."
India's rapeseed-mustard seed production was 63.09 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June).
This is the first proposal that has come up before the NDA government after the previous government had put a moratorium on commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal in 2010. Currently, Bt cotton is the only GM crop allowed for commercial cultivation.