New Delhi, March 7 -- India is conducting confined field trials for several genetically modified (GM) crops, including vitamin A and iron-fortified bananas, insect-resistant pigeon peas, and stress-tolerant rubber. The trials were disclosed in India's seventh national report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which outlines the country's implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton remains the only approved commercially cultivated GM crop in India, covering more than 11 million hectares. The commercial production of ethanol using GM yeast has also been permitted under specific conditions.

"India has regularly submitted national reports to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. So fa...