NEW DELHI, India - The government is planning to upgrade the department of biotechnology (DBT) to the status of a full-fledged ministry. At present DBT is under the Union ministry of science and technology and is responsible for promoting researches for development of genetically modified (GM) crops and other biotechnological applications in agriculture and health sciences.

Speaking at the 22nd Foundation day of DBT on Monday, the Union science and technology minister, Kapil Sibal said, "DBT is 22 years old where 27 people are working. As the 21st century would be the century of biotechnology with researches and applications being carried out across the globe, the time is ripe that DBT be upgraded to the status of an independent ministry or a commission."

He said that DBT had an annual budget of Rs 9,000 crore as compared to Rs 450 crore budget for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). He said that biotechnology had the potential for improving agricultural productivity and combating climate change. It can help in sustaining 9% growth rate in the Economy and achieving 4% growth rate in agriculture. Biotechnology had also given lot of employment opportunities to women, he said.