ICAR releases India's first genome-edited rice varieties: DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 4 May 2025 announced two genome-edited rice varieties developed by ICAR, DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1, which the Ministry described as the world's first.
Summary
DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1, India's first genome-edited rice varieties, were announced by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the NASC Complex, New Delhi, on 4 May 2025. The Ministry said India is the first country to develop genome-edited rice varieties. Developed by ICAR using CRISPR-Cas based genome editing, which makes precise changes without adding foreign DNA, they come from research begun in 2018 to improve Samba Mahsuri and MTU 1010 under the National Agricultural Science Fund. DRR Rice 100 (Kamla), from ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad, is based on Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204) and matures about 20 days earlier (~130 days). Pusa DST Rice 1, from ICAR-IARI New Delhi, is based on MTU 1010 and can raise yields by 9.66% to 30.4% in saline and alkaline soils. The Ministry cited benefits of a 19% increase in yield, savings of 7,500 million cubic metres of irrigation water and better tolerance to drought, salinity and climate stress. SDN-1 and SDN-2 genome editing is approved under India's biosafety regulations.
Key facts
- Announced
- 4 May 2025, NASC Complex, New Delhi
- Varieties
- DRR Rice 100 (Kamla); Pusa DST Rice 1
- Technology
- CRISPR-Cas genome editing, no foreign DNA (SDN-1/SDN-2)
- Research began
- 2018, National Agricultural Science Fund
- DRR Rice 100
- ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad; based on Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204); ~20 days earlier (~130 days)
- Pusa DST Rice 1
- ICAR-IARI New Delhi; based on MTU 1010; 9.66â30.4% higher yield in saline/alkaline soils
- Benefits cited
- 19% yield increase; 7,500 million cubic metres irrigation water saved
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Which two genome-edited rice varieties were announced by ICAR on 4 May 2025?
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Correct answer: C â DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1
The varieties are DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1, developed by editing Samba Mahsuri and MTU 1010 respectively.
The genome-edited rice variety DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) is based on which parent variety?
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Correct answer: B â Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204)
DRR Rice 100 (Kamla), developed by ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad, is based on Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204).
Consider the following statements about India's genome-edited rice varieties: 1. They were developed using CRISPR-Cas based genome editing without adding foreign DNA. 2. Pusa DST Rice 1 was developed by ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A â 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Pusa DST Rice 1 was developed by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi; DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) is from ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the two genome-edited rice varieties offer an increase in yield of about:
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Correct answer: D â 19%
The Ministry cited a 19% increase in yield. 9.66â30.4% is the range for Pusa DST Rice 1 in saline and alkaline soils.