The organisation set up by the Indian Government to take decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-organism is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC)
Option (1) Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) — Correct. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is the body the Indian Government set up for this purpose. The other options are a made-up committee and bodies for agricultural research and for medicine.
Option (2) Genetic Modification Approval Committee (GMAC) — Incorrect. No committee of this name exists. NCERT names the GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee) as the body set up by the Indian Government.
Option (3) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) — Incorrect. ICAR runs agricultural research and education; it is not the body that approves GM organisms.
Option (4) All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) — Incorrect. AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) is a medical institute and hospital. It does not decide on GM research or on releasing GM organisms.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 22-05-2025 (Slot 2).
NCERT Extract:
Ethical Issues – “… Going beyond the morality of such issues, the biological significance of such things is also important. Genetic modification of organisms can have unpredicatable results when such organisms are introduced into the ecosystem. Therefore, the Indian Government has set up organisations such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee), which will make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-organisms for public services.”