Herbicide-tolerant Bt (HTBt) cotton, an unapproved GM technology allowing glyphosate spraying, has spread across India beyond regulatory approval, covering roughly 26-29 lakh hectares in 2025-26. Regulators seek data on biosafety, soil impacts, residues and detection methods as authorities weigh managing unauthorised adoption, its socioeconomic drivers, herbicide resistance risks and needed regulatory responses.
