With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements: 1) GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests. 2) GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization. 3) GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is B (only statement 2). GM mustard (DMH-11) was developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants at Delhi University's South Campus, led by Deepak Pental's team, and it uses a hybrid-breeding system rather than pest resistance.

• Statement 1 is wrong. The bacterial genes used are barnase, barstar and bar. Barnase and barstar come from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, but they serve to induce and restore male sterility, not to confer pest resistance. Pest resistance is the wrong function for these genes.
• Statement 2 is correct. The barnase-barstar system controls male sterility and fertility restoration, which makes hybrid seed production possible in mustard. The aim is higher yield through heterosis.
• Statement 3 is wrong. The IARI and Punjab Agricultural University were not involved. The developer was Delhi University's CGMCP.

The core concept is transgenic hybrid technology in GM crops, which links to the Mains debate on GM regulation: GEAC approval, the environmental risks and India's policy stance on GM food crops. The regulatory status has moved since 2018, and GM mustard is still not cleared for commercial cultivation.

Trap: Aspirants see "bacterial genes" and assume pest resistance, the usual Bt logic. Here the bacterial genes manage male sterility for hybridisation.