Lok Sabha Question No. 469 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Use of Biotechnology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *469 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/03/2018

## Use of Biotechnology

## *469.   SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the initiatives taken by the Government to encourage the use of biotechnology in agriculture,  animal science and healthcare sectors in the country along  with the achievements  thereof  during  each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year, sector-wise;
- (b) the details of the funds provided by the Government to support the Research and Development Projects based on biotechnology in these sectors across the country during the said period, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether a number of States have formulated their own biotechnology development  strategy/policy  due  to  lacklustre  approach  of  the  Government  to promote biotechnology in such States;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  reaction  of  the Government thereto; and
- (e) whether  the Government  has  provided  guidance/support  to  such  States  in formulating  their  own  biotechnology development  strategy/policy  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a), (b), (c), (d) & (e)  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *469 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/03/2018 REGARDING 'USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY'

- (a) The National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-20 launched by the Government  has  identified  agriculture,  animal  science  and  healthcare  as  important sectors  and  the  Department  of  Biotechnology  has  supported  several  programmes  in these  sectors  and  also  initiated  new  programmes  during  last  three  years  and  current year.

The  achievements  of  the  Biotechnology  sector  in  India  during  last  three  years  and current year include following:

-  Number of Publications: 10,537
-  Number of Patent Application filed: 183
-  Number of Technologies/Products developed and commercialized: 301
-  Start-ups/Entrepreneurs supported: 350
-  Students trained in Industrial Programme: > than 5000

The sector-wise achievements in agriculture, animal science and healthcare are:

## Agriculture:

-  A guideline on 'Regulations and Guidelines on Biosafety of Recombinant DNA Research and Biocontainment, 2017' was released.
-  Biotech  KISAN  Scheme  with  a  major  impact  on  rural  livelihood  was announced  in  October,  2016.  Under  this  programme,  Hubs  are  being established in 15 agro-climatic zones across the country.
-  As a major boost to the sericulture sector, the transgenic silkworm resistant to BmNPV infection has been developed. These hybrids would be a boon to the sericulturists of the country.
-  Fifteen countries joined hands to address the ambitious project of decoding the  wheat  genome  by  sequencing  17,000  million  bases.  Indian  Scientists contributed by decoding the Chromosome 2A.
-  Four virtual India-UK joint centres for agricultural nitrogen were established.
-  Two bacterial blight resistant Basmati rice varieties namely, Pusa Basmati 1728 and Pusa Basmati 1718 have been developed and released.

## Animal Science:

-  A  new  programme  for  Brucella  free  villages  has  been  announced  for implementation  on  pilot  scale  in  50  villages  covering  10  States.  3  new brucella diagnostic kit launched.
-  The Department of Biotechnology has initiated cattle genomics programme.
-  A cocktail vaccine for poultry salmonellosis was developed.

## Health:

-  National Biopharma Mission was launched on 30 th June, 2017. The Mission with a total budget of US$250 million aims to bring Industry and Academia together to promote entrepreneurship and affordable product development.
-  First indigenous Rota Virus Vaccine was launched in March, 2015.  A new injectable vaccine that  protects  against all four  dengue strains endemic  to India are being developed. A 1-day Dengue Diagnostic Test was developed.
-  The Pre-term Birth programme was initiated to promote a multidisciplinary research effort to predict & diagnose preterm birth (PTB) by enhancing the knowledge of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
-  Iron  fortified  rice:  IIT  Kharagpur  has  developed  an  indigenous  process technology and pilot scale manufacturing unit for iron fortified rice with the support from DBT.
- (b) During the last 4 years the Department has provided a total budget of Rs 3965.56 Crores to support R&D based projects across the country in different Universities/Institutes/Research  Organizations.  The  State-wise  details  are  available  on link: http://www.dbtindia.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/State\_wise-\_project.pdf
- (c) to (e):

The Government of India announced the National Biotechnology Development Strategy in  December  2015  with  the  major  emphasis  on  Education,  Research,  Translation  and Entrepreneurship. The Strategy clearly listed specific actions to be taken to achieve the target  of  US$100  billion  biotech  industries  by  2025.  In  the  action  plan  it  has  been indicated that this strategy will be implemented in partnership with the State Governments.

During  the  last  four  years,  States  of  Himachal  Pradesh,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Rajasthan, Gujarat,  West  Bengal,  Assam,  Odisha,  Maharashtra,  Telangana,  Karnataka,  Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have announced their State specific policies.

The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India is working closely with these State Governments in both formulation of policies and implementation of activities.