Biology · Biotechnology and Its Applications · NEET
GEAC stands for Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (in NCERT). It is set up by the Indian Government to decide if GM research is valid and if it is safe to release GMOs (like Bt cotton) for public use. Memory hook: GEAC is the "green-signal gatekeeper" — no GM crop or GM organism reaches the public without its approval.
GEAC acts as the gatekeeper: a GM organism must pass GEAC's validity and safety check before it can be released for public use. Remember that IUCN, not GEAC, handles endangered species lists.
Your doubts, answered
What is the full form of GEAC?
NCERT writes GEAC as the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee. In real government use today it is called the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee. For NEET, remember GEAC = the committee that approves GM organisms. If both words appear in options, GEAC is still the correct answer because the name of the committee (not the exact word) is being tested.
Why did the Indian Government set up GEAC?
Because genetic modification of organisms can give unpredictable results when GMOs are released into the ecosystem. So living organisms cannot be manipulated without regulation. GEAC was created to (1) judge the validity of GM research and (2) check the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services like food and medicine.
Does GEAC deal with GMOs or with endangered species?
GEAC deals only with GMOs (genetically modified organisms), not wildlife. The list of endangered species is released by IUCN (the IUCN Red List), not GEAC. NEET has mixed these two in options, so keep them separate: IUCN = species conservation, GEAC = GM safety.
What is the difference between GEAC and biopiracy?
GEAC is a regulatory committee that approves GM research and GMO release. Biopiracy is a wrong-doing — the use of bio-resources by companies without authorisation or payment to the country of origin (like the Basmati rice patent issue). Both come in the Ethical Issues section of the chapter, so students confuse them, but one is a body and the other is an act.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ Choosing RCGM, CSIR or ICMR as the body that approves release of GMOs for public use. ✓ GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval/Appraisal Committee) is the body that decides the safety of introducing GMOs for public use. 🧠 RCGM, CSIR and ICMR are research/medical bodies — only GEAC gives the final green signal for public release of a GMO.
Real NEET questions
NEET 2018
In India, the organisation responsible for assessing the safety of introducing genetically modified organisms for public use is
A · Research Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)
B · Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
C · Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
D · Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) ✓
Solution: The Indian Government set up GEAC to decide the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services. RCGM, CSIR and ICMR do not give this final public-release clearance. NCERT expands GEAC as Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, so GEAC is the answer regardless of the wording used in the option.
Solved Biotechnology and Its Applications NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Yes. GEAC appears in the Ethical Issues section of the Class 12 chapter Biotechnology and Its Applications, and it has been directly asked in NEET 2018.
What kind of decisions does GEAC make?
It decides whether GM research is valid and whether it is safe to introduce a GM organism (such as a GM crop) for public use in food or medicine.
Which is correct: Approval Committee or Appraisal Committee?
NCERT uses Approval Committee; the current official name is Appraisal Committee. For NEET, GEAC is the answer either way — the committee is what is being tested.
Give one example a GEAC would evaluate.
Bt cotton is a GM crop. Before such a GMO can be released for public use in India, GEAC assesses its safety.
