In a landmark development for Indian agriculture, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) today, May 4, 2025, announced the first-ever genome-edited rice varieties, officially unveiled by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi.
These breakthrough rice varieties were developed using advanced genome editing technology, marking a significant step forward in the use of modern biotechnology for crop improvement in India. The initiative aims to enhance crop yield, promote climate resilience, and reduce input costs for farmers.
The first variety, DRR Dhan 100 Kamala, has been derived from the popular high-yielding Samba Mahsuri. This improved variety matures 15 to 20 days earlier than the original and delivers an impressive 25% increase in yield, with an additional output of approximately eight tonnes per hectare. Notably, each panicle of the new strain produces 450 to 500 more grains compared to the parent variety.
Designed with sustainability in mind, DRR Dhan 100 Kamala is well-suited to direct seeding methods and exhibits efficient use of water and nutrients. It also shows tolerance to elevated temperatures, making it a climate-resilient option for farmers.
The second variety, named Pusa DST Rice 1, is developed from MTU1010 (Maruteru 1010), a widely cultivated rice strain. This variant offers high resilience to salinity and alkalinity stress. Field trials show that it yields 9.66% more than MTU1010 in saline soils, 14.66% more in alkaline soils, and up to 30.36% higher under salinity tension conditions.
These genome-edited varieties represent a leap forward in India’s efforts to enhance food security and improve the livelihoods of farmers by adopting innovative agricultural technologies.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the nation will always be grateful to the scientists who developed the new rice varieties, calling the day a ‘golden day in history.’ He emphasized that modern technologies like genome editing are essential for achieving the goals of a developed India and noted that its global use has already shown promising results. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has utilized this technology to develop two new high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of rice.
The first genome-edited variety, DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala), is expected to significantly increase rice production while reducing cultivation costs. Chouhan described this initiative as a major step toward strengthening Indian agriculture and empowering farmers, adding that genome editing has introduced a new dimension to Indian farming. He also highlighted that these advancements have contributed to the export of Basmati rice worth Rs 48,000 crore annually.
Speaking about the second genome-edited variety, Pusa Rice DST 1, Chouhan said it will be a great boon for farmers, enabling paddy cultivation with less water and lower costs. He emphasized that these new varieties offer renewed hope, particularly for farmers in drought-affected regions.
The Minister also stressed the need to boost the production of crops such as soybean, arhar (tur), lentils, urad, oilseeds, and other pulses. To support this vision, he introduced the "Minus 5 and Plus 10" formula—aimed at reducing the area under rice cultivation by 5 million hectares while increasing rice production by 10 million tons within the same area. This would create opportunities to diversify into pulses and oilseeds cultivation.
Chouhan called on farmers, especially the youth, to embrace advanced farming techniques and highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between agricultural research and practical farming. “When agricultural scientists and farmers come together, miracles will happen,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Chouhan recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, urging farmers to adopt modern technologies to overcome agricultural challenges. “If we are to ensure food security for our growing population, we must increase food production,” he affirmed.
Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, DA&FW, MoEF&CC, highlighted that the new varieties announced by ICAR today could be a game-changer for Indian agriculture.
“We need to conduct demand-driven research, where we gather feedback from farmers about what they need in specific regions, and integrate that into our research—so that the outcomes directly reach and benefit the farmers,” said Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of DARE and Director General of ICAR.
On this occasion, the Minister honored the scientists who contributed to the research of the two varieties. Dr. Vishwanathan C, Dr. Gopal Krishnan S, Dr. Santosh Kumar, Dr. Shivani Nagar, Dr. Archana Vats, Dr. Soham Ray, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh and Dr. Pranjal Yadav, were honored for their work on Pusa DST Rice 1. Dr. Satyendra Kumar Mangruthia, Dr. R.M. Sundaram, Dr. R. Abdul Fiyaz, Dr. C.N. Neerja, and Dr. S.V. Sai Prasad were honored for their contribution to the development of of DRR Rice 100 (Kamla).
These varieties have been developed for states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala (Zone VII), Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Zone V), Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal (Zone III).
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— Indian Council of Agricultural Research. (@icarindia) May 4, 2025
