Policymaking in the Context of Contestations: GM Technology Debate in India

Abstract

This article deals with the current conflicting discourses on the GM technology in India. To analyse the discourse, the article adopts the theory of advocacy coalition framework (ACF) and co-dynamic model taken from Sabatier & Weible (2007) and Millstone (2014), respectively. With the help of ACF and co-dynamic model, an attempt is made to understand the shaping up of the theory of various arguments on GM technology in Indian context. The theory and the model deal with the conflict of interest of stakeholders and the primary reason for the conflict. Besides that the article deals with the reports-presented by the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) appointed by the Supreme Court and the Parliamentary Standing Committee appointed by the Indian Parliament to show that the available information on GM techno-logy is contested among scientists. The article argues that the relevance of the theory and model increases for policy participants to analyse and address various concerns coming from the civil society groups about GM technology on production, biodiversity, environment, health and ownership right related issues.