As per a report of International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, 2018, India ranks 5th in global cultivation of GM crops. Bt. cotton is the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in the Country.
Many people are opposed to the GM crops in India and also abroad.
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In a note, the government of India said that “the approval of any new genetically modified crop is given on a case to case basis after thorough scientific evaluation of health and environment safety as per applicable guidelines made under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules, 1989.”
State wise area under Bt. cotton cultivation during last three years:
(Area in lakh hectare)
| STATE | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 6.50 | 4.59 | 6.41 |
| Telangana | 16.61 | 13.80 | 18.84 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 4.86 | 5.39 | 4.82 |
| Gujarat | 26.23 | 20.25 | 22.49 |
| Maharashtra | 34.40 | 32.35 | 37.86 |
| Karnataka | 4.87 | 3.03 | 4.50 |
| Tamil Nadu | 0.99 | 1.08 | 1.80 |
| Punjab | 3.33 | 2.43 | 2.86 |
| Haryana | 5.27 | 3.64 | 6.21 |
| Rajasthan | 3.56 | 2.87 | 4.96 |
| Total Area | 106.62 | 89.43 | 110.75 |
