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 said, "The nation will always be grateful to the scientists who developed this variety, and today will be remembered as a golden day in history. Modern technology like "genome editing" is essential to achieving the goals of a developed India, and its use globally has shown very promising results. ICAR has used this technology to develop two new high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of rice."
He added, "The first variety of genome-edited rice, DRR DHAN 100 (KAMALA), will lead to increased production and reduced costs. This initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening Indian agriculture and empowering farmers. Genome editing has introduced a new dimension to Indian agriculture."
Chouhan further stated that the second genome-edited rice variety, PUSA RICE DST 1, will prove to be a great boon for our farmer brothers and sisters. Now, paddy cultivation will be possible with less water and lower costs. These varieties bring new hope especially for farmers in drought-affected areas.
“During the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies to tackle farming challenges. If we are to ensure food security for the growing population, we must increase food production,” he concluded.
“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.
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— Indian Council of Agricultural Research. (@icarindia) May 4, 2025
