A genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt-brinjal, has been developed. The objective of this is

The answer is A. Bt-brinjal carries a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (cry1Ac), which makes the plant produce a protein toxic to the larvae of the brinjal fruit and shoot borer, Leucinodes orbonalis. So the objective is pest resistance, specifically against this borer.

Why the others fail:

• B: Taste and nutrition are not the Bt trait. Nutritional improvement is a separate goal, pursued through biofortification (as with Golden Rice).
• C: Drought tolerance needs stress-response genes, such as DREB-type genes. Bt has no role in water stress.
• D: Longer shelf-life is the classic aim of the antisense-gene Flavr Savr tomato, not Bt-brinjal.

Core concept: transgenic crops built around insect resistance. For Mains (GS-III, biotechnology and food security), the debate is about biosafety. The GEAC cleared Bt-brinjal in 2009, but a moratorium followed in 2010, and it has still not been commercially released. Know the regulatory bodies and the Cartagena Protocol.

Trap: aspirants read 'Bt' as 'biotech' in general and pick the option about nutrition or shelf-life. The 'Bt' tag means a specific insecticidal toxin.