Lok Sabha Question No. 171 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Genome Sequencing of New Variant of Coronavirus
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Rakesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *171 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2021

Genome Sequencing of New Variant of Coronavirus

## *171.  SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY िव²ान और ÿौīोिगकì मंýी

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether genome sequencing is performed to identify a new variant of Coronavirus and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether genome sequencing has reduced in the country and its results are getting delayed thereby increasing the risk of infection;
- (c) if so, the detailed reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken any steps to make improvement in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a), (b), (c) & (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  IN  RESPECT  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  *171  TO  BE ANSWERED  ON  30/07/2021  REGARDING  'GENOME  SEQUENCING  OF  NEW VARIANT OF CORONAVIRUS'

(a) The  Indian  SARS -CoV -2  Genomics  Consortium (INSCOG)  a  consortium  of  28  genome sequencing laboratories of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHF&W), Council of Scientific and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR),  Ministry  of  Education,  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research (ICMR) and State Governments was established as an Inter-Ministerial initiative with an overall objective to expand whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 virus across the nation, aiding our understanding of how the virus spreads and evolves. The specific objectives of INSACOG are; i) ascertain the current status of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the country; ii) establish a sentinel surveillance for early detection of genomic variants with public health implication; iii) determine the  genomic  variants  in  the  unusual  events/trends  (super-spreader  events,  high  mortality  / morbidity trend areas etc.).

Since the inception of INSACOG till now the INSACOG has sequenced 58,240 SARS-CoV-2 genomes.  Out  of  these  46,124  samples  have  been  analyzed  and  assigned  Pangolin  lineage classification and submitted to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for public health correlation.

(b), (c), and (d) No, genome sequencing capacity has not been reduced in the country. The capacity has enhanced by expanding INSACOG network from 10 laboratories to 28 laboratories. Efforts in terms of expansion of INSACOG by onboarding more laboratories have been undertaken. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed to accelerate the pace of genome sequencing in terms of the number of samples to be sequenced as well as the time for reporting and undertake sequencing of samples from hospitals and for sewerage surveillance as a public health tool to understand  COVID-19  spread  in  a  community.  These  initiatives  provide  significant  scientific information  to  assist  and  guide  the  public  health  decisions  for  COVID-19  management  in  the country.

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