Till very recently the Indian government, supported by a range of farmer, health and environmental activists, had taken a clear decision not to permit any genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered (GE) food crop in the country, keeping in view the widely documented risks and hazards associated with such crops.

The only GM crop released in India so far is GM cotton in the form of Bt cotton. Although cottonseed oil is regularly used in preparing namkeen or salty snacks and its oilcake is consumed by dairy animals, cotton is regarded as a commercial crop and not a food crop.