Overview
- The Coalition for a GM-Free India alleged ICAR and the Agriculture Ministry manipulated AICRPR trial results for Pusa DST-1 and DRR Dhan 100 to overstate benefits.
- Drawing on ICAR’s 2023–2024 reports, the group said Pusa DST-1 lacked drought or salinity testing data in 2023 and showed no clear salinity yield gains in 2024, while DRR Dhan 100 underperformed at many sites and lacked published support for a 20-day earlier maturity claim.
- ICAR dismissed the accusations as baseless, asserting that both lines were blind-coded and tested across more than 24 locations under AICRPR protocols, with field data publicly accessible.
- In its rebuttal, ICAR pointed to zone-specific results showing yield advantages for Pusa DST-1 under alkaline and saline stress, countering assertions of selective reporting.
- The coalition demanded withdrawal of promotional claims, an independent scientific review, and a moratorium on gene-edited crop releases, and no outside investigation or regulatory action has been announced.