Biotechnology India
1. Introduction
- Definition: Application of biological systems & living organisms to develop or make products for human welfare.
- Indian Advantage: 2nd largest human resource pool, 12% global biodiversity, 47% global GM cotton area.
- Vision: “Making India a Global Bio-manufacturing Hub by 2025” – DBT.
2. Chronology of Indian Biotechnology
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1982 | First r-DNA lab at NII, Delhi |
| 1986 | Department of Biotechnology (DBT) created – 1st separate ministry in world |
| 1990 | Biotech Consortium India Ltd. (BCIL) |
| 2007 | Launch of BIPP (Biotech-Industry Partnership) |
| 2012 | 1st indigenously-made Hep-B vaccine (Shanvac-B) by Shantha Biotech |
| 2014 | National Biotechnology Development Strategy (NBDS)–I |
| 2017 | Launch of BIRAC’s BIG scheme |
| 2020 | COVID-19 indigenously developed COVAXIN (BBV152) |
| 2021 | 2nd NBDS (2021-25) – target US $150 Bn bio-economy by 2025 |
| 2022 | Genome India Project (10,000 Indian genomes) |
3. Institutional Framework
| Agency | Headquarters | Role |
|---|---|---|
| DBT | New Delhi | Policy & funding |
| BIRAC | New Delhi | Public-private interface |
| BIBCOL | Bhopal | Oral-polio vaccine production |
| RCB | Faridabad | Research & PhD training |
| NIAB | Hyderabad | Animal biotech |
| NCCS | Pune | Cell sciences |
| IGIB | Delhi | Genomics & informatics |
| CCMB | Hyderabad | Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology |
| NABI | Mohali | Agri-biotech |
4. Key Programmes & Schemes
| Scheme | Full-form | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| BIRAC-SRISTI | Sustainable Innovisions | Grass-root innovations |
| BIG | Biotechnology Ignition Grant | Proof-of-concept (₹50 lakh) |
| C-CAMP | Centre for Cellular & Molecular Platforms | Bio-incubator |
| I-Create | – | Bio-start-up accelerator |
| BioNEST | Bio-Incubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship | 75 supported |
| Bio-E3 | Bio-Economy, Environment, Employment | Manufacturing push 2023 |
5. India’s Bio-Economy Size
| Year | Value (US $ Bn) | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 11 | 12th |
| 2020 | 70 | 9th |
| 2023 | 92 | 3rd (after USA, China) |
| 2025 (target) | 150 | – |
6. Vaccine & Biologics Production
- 60% global vaccine doses manufactured in India (WHO 2023).
- Serum Institute (Pune) – world’s largest vaccine maker (1.5 Bn doses/yr).
- Bharat Biotech – COVAXIN, ROTAVAC, Typbar-TCV.
- Bio-E – CORBEVAX (COVID-19), largest mRNA plant at Telangana (2024).
7. Genomic Initiatives
- Genome India Project – 10,000 whole genomes (2022-26) – MoST & DBT.
- IndiGen – 1,029 whole genomes mapped (IGIB, 2019).
- GISAID-India – SARS-CoV-2 data sharing node at IGIB.
8. GM Crops Status
| Crop | Trait | Developer | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton (Bt) | Cry1Ac/Cry2Ai | Monsanto-Mahyco | 2002 |
| Mustard (Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11) | Bar-barnase | Delhi Univ. | 2022 (environmental release) |
| Brinjal (Bt) | Cry1Fa1 | Mahyco | 2009 moratorium |
| Rice (Golden) | β-carotene | DBT-IRRI | confined trials |
India is 4th largest grower of biotech crops (11.3 m ha, 2022).
9. Regulatory Architecture
| Body | Under | Function |
|---|---|---|
| GEAC | MoEFCC | GM crop approval |
| RCGM | DBT | r-DNA safety |
| CDSCO | MoHFW | Clinical trials |
| FSSAI | MoHFW | GM food labelling |
| PPVFRA | MoA&FW | Plant variety protection |
10. International Collaborations
- Global Bio-foundries Alliance – India joined 2020.
- Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme – since 1987.
- Indo-Sweden Innovations’ Health call – 2021.
- WHO mRNA hub technology transfer – Pune (2022).
11. One-liner Quick Facts
- India has > 5,000 biotech start-ups (2023).
- BIRAC has funded 1,100+ start-ups since 2012.
- DBT budget 2023-24: ₹2,683 crore.
- National Biotechnology Parks – 4 (Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Faridabad, Odisha).
- First cloned animal – buffalo “Garima” (NDRI, 2009).
- First biosimilar – Ranbaxy’s “Filgrastim” (2001).
- Largest biotech incubator – C-CAMP, Bengaluru (60 start-ups).
- COVID-19 genome sequencing consortia – INSACOG (28 labs).
- BioAsia – Asia’s largest biotech conclave, Hyderabad (since 2003).
- Biotech-KISAN – farmer-centric agri-innovation (2017).
12. Table: Top 5 Indian Biotech Companies
| Rank | Company | HQ | 2023 Revenue (₹ Cr) | Key Product |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serum Institute | Pune | 60,000 | Covishield, Polio |
| 2 | Biocon | Bengaluru | 7,380 | Insulin, Trastuzumab |
| 3 | Bharat Biotech | Hyderabad | 5,500 | COVAXIN, Typbar |
| 4 | Dr. Reddy’s | Hyderabad | 24,000 (incl. pharma) | Reditux |
| 5 | Lupin | Mumbai | 16,000 | Biosimilars |
13. MCQs for Railway Exams
Click for 15+ MCQs with Answers
When was the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) established in India?
A) 1976 B) 1986 C) 1996 D) 2006
Ans: BWhich city hosts the headquarters of BIRAC?
A) Mumbai B) Bengaluru C) New Delhi D) Hyderabad
Ans: CIndia’s bio-economy target for 2025 is:
A) $50 Bn B) $100 Bn C) $150 Bn D) $200 Bn
Ans: CFirst indigenously developed Hepatitis-B vaccine was:
A) Revac-B B) Shanvac-B C) Engerix-B D) GeneVac-B
Ans: BLargest biotech crop grown in India is:
A) Bt Brinjal B) Bt Cotton C) Bt Mustard D) Golden Rice
Ans: BThe GEAC functions under which ministry?
A) MoHFW B) MoEFCC C) MoST D) MoA&FW
Ans: BCOVAXIN was developed by:
A) Serum Institute B) Bharat Biotech & ICMR C) Bio-E D) Zydus
Ans: BGenome India Project aims to sequence:
A) 1,000 B) 5,000 C) 10,000 D) 1,00,000 genomes
Ans: CFirst cloned buffalo “Garima” was developed by:
A) NDRI B) IVRI C) TANUVAS D) CIRB
Ans: AIndia’s share of global vaccine supply is approximately:
A) 20% B) 40% C) 60% D) 80%
Ans: CWhich is NOT a GM crop approved for cultivation in India?
A) Bt Cotton B) Bt Mustard C) Bt Brinjal D) None
Ans: CBIRAC’s BIG scheme provides maximum funding of:
A) ₹5 lakh B) ₹15 lakh C) ₹50 lakh D) ₹1 crore
Ans: CGlobal BioAsia conference is held annually in:
A) Bengaluru B) Hyderabad C) Pune D) Mumbai
Ans: BIndiGen programme is implemented by:
A) NIBMG B) IGIB C) CCMB D) NCCS
Ans: BIndia joined Global Bio-foundries Alliance in:
A) 2018 B) 2019 C) 2020 D) 2021
Ans: CWhich state has the maximum number of DBT-supported biotech incubators?
A) Maharashtra B) Karnataka C) Telangana D) Tamil Nadu
Ans: BThe National Biotechnology Park at Hyderabad is located in:
A) Genome Valley B) Electronics City C) HITEC City D) Nehru Science Centre
Ans: AThe COVID-19 genome sequencing consortium INSACOG is led by:
A) CSIR B) DBT & ICMR C) DRDO D) NCDC
Ans: B
14. Revision Chart
| Topic | Key Word |
|---|---|
| 1st biotech dept | 1986 DBT |
| Largest vaccine maker | Serum Institute |
| GM crop moratorium | Bt Brinjal 2009 |
| Cloned buffalo | Garima 2009 |
| COVID vaccine | COVAXIN |
| Bio-economy 2023 | $92 Bn |
| Genomic map | IndiGen |
| Farmer scheme | Biotech-KISAN |
| mRNA plant | Bio-E Telangana |
Remember: “DBT-86, Bt-Cotton-2002, COVAXIN-2020, $150 Bn-2025”
BETA
