India’s Supreme Court is set to hear pleas on April 15, 2025, against the commercial rollout of GM Mustard (DMH-11), developed by the University of Delhi. Though approved by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in 2022, it faces strong opposition from environmentalists, farmers, and policy experts citing health, ecological, and procedural concerns.

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• GM Mustard (DMH-11) is a hybrid developed by Delhi University using genes barnase, barstar, and bar for better yield and herbicide tolerance.
• Supreme Court will hear petitions on April 15, 2025, challenging GM mustard’s approval by GEAC in 2022.
• Critics cite ecological risks—GM crops may crossbreed with wild plants, harming biodiversity.
• Herbicide tolerance raises health and environmental red flags, banned earlier as per TEC report.
• Bt cotton, India’s first GM crop, failed to sustain yields and led to honey bee habitat loss.
• Farmers now face pest resurgence (pink bollworm) in Bt cotton, requiring heavy pesticide use.
• Centre lacks statutory guidelines for assessing herbicide-tolerant crops like GM mustard.
• GEAC accused of relying on foreign data and bypassing public consultations.
• Concerns over seed patenting and monopoly by private companies triggering farmer debt fears.
• Experts urge indigenous trials, farmer protections, and transparency before commercial rollout.