With reference to recent government interventions in the cotton sector, consider the following statements:
No new GM crop has been commercialised in India since Monsanto’s Bollgard-2 in 2006.
Cotton is treated differently from food crops like mustard and brinjal in GM regulation due to its non-food status.
The 2025-26 Union Budget launched a 'Mission for Cotton Productivity' to support quality supply and research.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Question

India has not commercialised any new GM crop since Monsanto’s Bollgard-2 Bt cotton, which was approved in May 2006. Regulatory delays, legal challenges, and resistance from environmental groups have contributed to this stagnation, despite ongoing R&D in new GM traits.
Cotton is not a food crop, unlike mustard or brinjal, which are consumed directly or used in edible oils. This makes the regulatory and public resistance to GM cotton relatively lower, creating more policy flexibility for the government to push for new GM cotton technologies amid the ongoing pest crisis.
In the Union Budget 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a “Mission for Cotton Productivity” — a five-year initiative aimed at increasing cotton yield using scientific and technological support. It specifically aims to ensure a steady supply of quality cotton to the textile industry, which is facing raw material shortages due to declining domestic production and rising pest attacks (like PBW).

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

India has not commercialised any new GM crop since Monsanto’s Bollgard-2 Bt cotton, which was approved in May 2006. Regulatory delays, legal challenges, and resistance from environmental groups have contributed to this stagnation, despite ongoing R&D in new GM traits.
Cotton is not a food crop, unlike mustard or brinjal, which are consumed directly or used in edible oils. This makes the regulatory and public resistance to GM cotton relatively lower, creating more policy flexibility for the government to push for new GM cotton technologies amid the ongoing pest crisis.
In the Union Budget 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a “Mission for Cotton Productivity” — a five-year initiative aimed at increasing cotton yield using scientific and technological support. It specifically aims to ensure a steady supply of quality cotton to the textile industry, which is facing raw material shortages due to declining domestic production and rising pest attacks (like PBW).

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