Lok Sabha Question No. 2890 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Genetic Engineering
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: George Baker

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2890 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/08/2016

## GENETIC ENGINEERING

2890. SHRI GEORGE BAKER

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

- a the details of steps taken by the Government to encourage research in Genetic Engineering particularly   with a view to enabling development in the fields of fisheries and animal husbandry; agriculture, floriculture,
- the details of the genetic engineering research facilities wise; available in the country, State/UT -
- the details of funds earmarked to these research facilities and the current each of the last three years year; during
- whether the Government is planning considering t0 open some research facilities in the and new genetic engineering country;
- the details of research work undertaken by these research centres in the country;
- the details thereof and the time by which these are likely to be opened, location-wise? if so,

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH (Y.S. CHOWDARY) SCIENCES

- (a) To   encourage research in   genetic  engineering particularly with a view to enabling developments in the  fields of agriculture, floriculture, fisheries and' animal Government is providing technical and financial husbandry, the Ministries support through schemes & projects of various Departments   such as Department of Biotechnology; Department of Science and Indian Council of Agriculture Research; of Technology; Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; of Environment, Forests & Climate and University Grants Commission. projects involving genetic Various schemes & engineering are implemented to skilled human resource and aids;   support   laboratory infrastructure,  technology platforms and   bio-clusters and international cooperation for abroad and undertake bilateral joint collaborative projects. research Ministry Ministry Change; develop teaching training

The number of institutions genetic engineering research facilities in the country, State UT-wise are Gujarat (40); Tamil Nadu (28); Kerala (15); Maharashtra (102); Goa (4); Punjab (17); Uttar Pradesh (29); Madhya Pradesh (12); Haryana (21); Bihar (5); Jharkhand (1); Delhi (44); Pondicherry (3); Himachal Pradesh (7); Karnataka (52); Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (122); Assam (7); (1); Meghalaya (1); Orissa (6); Rajasthan (6); (1); Uttarakhand (5); and West Bengal (20). having Manipur Tripura

It is difficult to estimate the details of funds earmarked year-wise to research facilities by various agencies for genetic engineering activities since genetic engineering is an integral part of many major programmes / schemes involving other conventional approaches and technologies. In so far as the Department of Biotechnology is concerned, financial support has been provided for such facilities to the extent of Rs.1066.44 lakhs 2013-14; Rs.1936.62 lakhs 201415; Rs. 961.64 lakhs 2015-16; and Rs. 159.71 lakhs the current year: during during during during

(d) Research work undertaken by these research centres in the country includes development of genetically engineered plants and animals with useful traits such as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, high yield, improved nutrition, hybrid vigour and male sterility;  understanding the mechanism of plant developmental pathways; functional  genomic studies for identification of useful genes and validation of their functions; development of genetically engineered mosquito and silkworm with useful traits etc.

(e & f The Government is not planning/considering to open new genetic engineering research facilities in the country since such facilities are already available in about 600 institutions in the country and the government is making all efforts t strengthen the existing facilities in these institutions.