Why in news
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) says there's "progress" on GM crops, despite ongoing legal challenges.
The Supreme Court is set to resume hearings on petitions against the commercial cultivation of GM mustard starting April 15.
Currently, only Bt cotton is allowed for cultivation in India.
Challenges on GM crops
The Environment Ministry had conditionally approved GM mustard in 2022, but this was challenged in court.
A previous Supreme Court ruling resulted in a split verdict on GM mustard, and directed the government to make a "national policy" on GM crops.
The DBT has provided technical input to the Environment Ministry for this policy.
There are ongoing safety concerns from activist groups about GM mustard.
The government's BioE3 policy emphasizes using biotechnology, including genetic engineering, to improve food crops.
A DBT report shows that bio-agriculture represents a small portion of India's overall bio-economy.
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