PM Modi Addresses Completion Of Indian Genome Project, Boosting Healthcare And Precision

A historic moment in the country and the field of biotechnology, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the completion of the Indian Genome Project will help change India's healthcare domain and gene study. In his video message, PM Modi said that sequencing 10,000 people will help India understand its population's genetic landscape properly and help in roadmap formulation and innovations. The Prime Minister also noted that India's population has a vast genetic diversity and, naturally, a diverse nature of diseases. He also mentioned the sickle cell anaemia disease in the Tribal communities in India.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, stated "Today, India has taken a truly historic step in the field of research. Five years ago, the Genome India Project was approved. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 during this period, our scientists are endlessly trying to complete this project. The genomic data of 10,000 India is at the Indian Biological Data Centre. I am confident that this project will be a milestone in the biotechnology field.”

He further added, "The Genome India Project is a significant milestone in India's biotechnology revolution. I have been informed that this project has enabled us to create a diverse genetic resource in the country. Under this initiative, genome sequencing of 10,000 individuals from various populations across the nation has been conducted. This data will now be accessible to our scientists and researchers, helping them better understand India's genetic landscape. The information derived from this will greatly assist in policymaking and the design of various schemes for the country."

Additionally, he said that in the 21st century, biotechnology and biomass are the key constituents of building up India through bioeconomy. The Prime Minister also emphasised that India, globally recognised as a central pharmaceutical hub, is now reaching new heights. Genome India, an innovative national program funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, was initiated in January 2020. It aims to sequence 10,000 genomes of healthy Indians throughout the country.

"Hence, it is crucial to know which type of medication benefits a particular individual. For this, understanding the genetic identity of citizens is essential. In our tribal communities, sickle cell anaemia poses a significant challenge. To tackle this, we have launched a National Mission. However, it is possible that this disease exists in one region's community but not in another. There might be other issues in those areas. We can ascertain such details only when we have a comprehensive genetic study. This will help us understand the unique genomic patterns of India's population and enable us to create specific solutions for particular groups," PM Modi said.

The primary objective of Genome India is to create a more diverse genomics collection for India's population than the current global human reference map provides. This initiative is not only about a simple decoding of genes; it is about constructing a comprehensive map of a comprehensive reference to address the issues of genetic diversity of the Indian population. The Genome India project will remain a valued collective asset to India's public health. This effort to uplift healthcare is empowering basic researchers and clinicians, which in turn leads to transformative precision interventions.

"The goal of the bio-economy is the efficient utilisation of natural resources, the promotion of bio-based products and services, and the creation of new employment opportunities in this sector. The bio-economy accelerates sustainable development and fosters innovation. Over the past decade, India's bio-economy has grown rapidly. From 10 billion dollars in 2014, it has now surpassed 150 billion," he said.

He also commented, "In the past decade, India has taken several revolutionary steps in public healthcare, such as providing free treatment to millions of Indians, offering medicines at an 80 per cent discount through Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and building modern infrastructure. These are significant achievements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India demonstrated the robustness of its pharmaceutical ecosystem. The Genome India Project will further accelerate India's efforts."