India has become the first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties, marking a major milestone in agricultural science and innovation. The breakthrough was announced on April 4, 2025, in New Delhi by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who described it as a historic step toward higher farm productivity, climate resilience, and water conservation.
Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the two varieties, DRR Rice 100 (Kamla)andPusa DST Rice 1, have been created using CRISPR-Cas genome-editing technology, which enables precise genetic changes without introducing foreign DNA. These varieties are expected to deliver up to a 19% increase in yield, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, and save nearly 7,500 million cubic meters of irrigation water.
Shri Chouhan said the achievement reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of modernising agriculture and could lead the way for a “second Green Revolution.” He highlighted the need to balance food security with environmental sustainability, noting that the new varieties mature earlier, require less water, and are better suited to climate stress.
DRR Rice 100, based on Samba Mahsuri, matures 20 days earlier and reduces methane emissions, while Pusa DST Rice 1 shows strong yield gains in saline and alkaline soils. Together, these varieties strengthen India’s push toward sustainable agriculture and its goal of becoming a global food leader.
