India need to upgrade its biosecurity measures

Source: The post “India need to upgrade its biosecurity measures” has been created, based on “India need to upgrade its biosecurity measures” published in “The Hindu” on 16th December 2025.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-3- Technology 

Context: Biosecurity refers to the systems and practices aimed at preventing the deliberate misuse of biological agents, toxins, and biotechnologies that can harm humans, animals, or plants. With rapid advances in biotechnology and growing global bio-threats, India needs to upgrade its biosecurity measures to safeguard public health and national security.

Why India Needs to Upgrade Its Biosecurity Measures

1. Advances in Biotechnology: Emerging technologies such as synthetic biology, gene editing, and artificial intelligence have increased the possibility of biological agents being misused for malicious purposes.
2. Threat from Non-State Actors: Reports of toxins like ricin being prepared for potential terror attacks indicate that non-state actors are exploring biological tools, increasing internal security risks.
3. Geographical and Ecological Vulnerability: India’s diverse ecology, long borders, and exposure to transboundary diseases make it vulnerable to cross-border biological threats.
4. High Population Density and Agricultural Dependence: India’s large population and reliance on agriculture amplify the social and economic impact of any biological incident.
5. Fragmented Biosecurity Architecture: Multiple ministries and agencies handle biosecurity-related issues, but the lack of a unified national framework hampers coordination and rapid response.
6. Declining Global Health Security Preparedness: Despite improvements in detection, India’s ability to respond effectively to biological threats has weakened, as reflected in global health security assessments.

International Context and Lessons

1. The United States integrates biosecurity under a National Biodefense Strategy with DNA synthesis screening.
2. The European Union adopts a One Health approach linking human, animal, and environmental health.
3. China treats biotechnology as a national security issue through a comprehensive Biosecurity Law.
4. Australia and the United Kingdom follow unified and forward-looking biosecurity strategies.

Challenges in Strengthening Biosecurity in India

1. Institutional Fragmentation: Overlapping responsibilities among health, agriculture, biotechnology, and disaster management agencies create coordination gaps.
2. Outdated Legal Frameworks: Many existing laws and guidelines were framed before the emergence of modern biotechnologies and do not adequately address dual-use research and synthetic biology risks.
3. Capacity and Infrastructure Gaps: Limited biosurveillance infrastructure, shortage of trained personnel, and uneven laboratory standards across States weaken preparedness.
4. Balancing Innovation and Regulation: Over-regulation may stifle scientific research and innovation, while under-regulation increases the risk of misuse.
5. Surveillance and Privacy Concerns: New tools such as digital surveillance and social media monitoring raise ethical and privacy-related challenges.
6. Limited Public Awareness and Training: Biosecurity remains a niche policy area, with low awareness among local authorities, researchers, and frontline health workers.

Way Forward

1. India should establish a comprehensive national biosecurity framework integrating human, animal, plant, and environmental health under a One Health approach.
2. Legal and regulatory systems should be updated to address emerging technologies and dual-use risks.
3. Investment in biosurveillance, early-warning systems, and microbial forensics should be increased.
4. Inter-agency coordination and capacity-building at the Centre and State levels must be strengthened.
5. International cooperation through platforms like the Biological Weapons Convention should be deepened.

Conclusion: India urgently needs to upgrade its biosecurity measures in response to evolving biological threats and technological advances. While significant challenges exist in terms of coordination, capacity, and regulation, a modern, integrated, and forward-looking biosecurity framework is essential to protect lives, livelihoods, and national security.

Question: Does India need to upgrade its biosecurity measures? Explain, highlighting the challenges involved.