Lok Sabha Question No. 2886 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Promotion of Bio-Technology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SRINIVAS KESINENI, S.SELVAKUMARA CHINNAYAN

2886.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2886 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/08/2016

## PROMOTION OF BIO-TECHNOLOGY

SHRI KESINENI NANI: SHRI S. SELVAKUMARA CHINNAYAN

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- a)
- (6) to encourage the bio-technology education and industry in India and the financial support provided by the Government for the same, if any;
- the current position of India in the field of bio-technology research and development in the world;
- whether the Government has any proposal to set up an independent regulator for biotechnology including Genetically Modified (GM) crops through an executive order;
- order; and
- if so, the details thereof and the reasons to set up such regulator through an executive
- the special feature of the proposed independent regulator?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

- (e)

(Y. S. CHOWDARY)

- (a) India' $ research   performance   in  Pharmacology and that India $ scholarly output based on publication data is nearly 5 % of the world's total in 2014 and showing strong average growth of over 12 % annually.
- (b) Depart ent is   implementing an integrated human resource development   program research in biotechnology and Biotechnology Industrial Training program for post graduate students for skill upgradation. Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowships also provided to 50 scientists each year. The Department has implemented postgraduate teaching program in 71 universities, there is a provision of 275 and 125 fellowships per year in DBT-Junior Research Fellowship Program and  DBT-research Associateship program, respectively. The Department is also   providing 6 months   industrial training to fresh E.IB. Tech /M. Sc / M. Tech biotechnology students for skill development and enhancing their employability in biotech industries The total budget for Human Resource Development program in FY 2016-17 is INR 209 crores\_ Biotechnology Industry Research Assessments

Council (BIRAC) as a Section 8 (not for profit) Public Sector Enterprise in 2012 with the mandate to build the biotechnology innovation ecosystem in the country. Since its inception; BIRAC has provided to entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and translational organizations to the tune of INR 677 crores which has helped innovation research to high quality and affordable   products towards   commercialization. BIRAC has several  flagship programs for supporting startups and SMEs across the biotechnology innovation pipeline including funding (from ideation stage to commercialization) , incubation, patent assistance, capacity building through training and mentoring including business and technical mentoring: The total budget from BIRAC in FY 2016-17 for startups and innovation research in industries is INR 120 crores. funding bring

(c, d & e) It is proposed to set Up an independent regulator for bio-technology including Genetically Modified (GM) crops for which The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bilf (BRAI) Bill, 2013 was introduced in XV Lok Sabha and was lapsed with the tenure of the same. BRAI Bill 2013 has now been revised into consideration recent developments in genetic engineering technologies for reintroduction through appropriate legislative process. Meanwhile, as an interim measure to implement the best practices contained in the BRAI Bill, establish a separate office dealing with biosafety issues it is proposed t0 of Genetically Engineered   products within the existing regulatory framework the Manufacture; Use; Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms/ Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989) of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1986. The proposed Office of Biotechnology Regulation will have an Inter-Ministerial Board represented by senior officials of concerned ministries for overall supervision with strengthened risk assessment and management system through a functional unit of multidisciplinary scientists. taking along