Biological Research Regulatory Approval Portal

BioRRP UPSC: Relevance

• GS 3: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Biotechnology UPSC: Context

• Recently, Ministry of Science and Technology has launched a single National portal for biotech researchers and start-ups.

जैविक अनुसंधान नियामक अनुमोदन पोर्टल

Biological Research Regulatory Approval Portal: Key points

• The Portal “BioRRAP” (Biological Research Regulatory Approval Portal) will cater to all those seeking regulatory approval for biological research & development activity in the country and thus aims for “Ease of Science as well as Ease of Business”.
• The portal is in line with the government’s objective of ‘One-Nation One-Portal’.
• The Portal will also allow stakeholders to see the approvals accorded against a particular application through a unique BioRRAP ID.
• This portal will strengthen interdepartmental synergies and bring accountability, transparency and efficacy in functioning of agencies regulating various aspect of biological research and issuing permission.

Significance of BioRRP

• The portal is a step towards Ease of Doing Science and Scientific research and Ease of Start-ups in India.
• At present there is no mechanism to track the requisite regulatory approval for a research proposal on a single portal.
• BioRRP will provide more credibility and recognition to such biological researches. Under this portal each research, requiring regulatory oversight, will be identified by a unique ID called “BioRRAP ID”.
• It will also serve as a gateway and will help researcher to see stage of approval of their applications for regulatory clearances and to see preliminary information on all the research work being undertaken by the particular researcher and/or organization.

Biotechnology in India

• India is poised to become a Global Bio-manufacturing Hub and will figure among the top 5 countries of the world by 2025.
• Bio-technology has fast emerged as an academic and livelihood avenue for youngsters in India.
• Other than biotechnology, biological work related to biodiversity, latest methods of conservation and protection of flora and fauna, forest and wildlife, bio-survey and bio-utilization of biological resources are also gaining momentum in India due to effect of climate change on them.
• Many of these research falls under the purview of one or more regulatory agencies which first approve the research proposal after which researcher undertakes that specific research.
• India is among the top 12 destinations for biotechnology globally and 3rd largest biotechnology destination in the Asia Pacific region.
• By 2025, the contribution of the Indian biotechnology industry in the global biotechnology market is expected to grow to 19% from a mere 3% in 2017.
• The Bio Economy’s contribution to the national GDP has also grown steadily in the past years to 7% in 2020 from 1.7% in 2017 and will touch new heights after 25 years of Bio-economy journey in the Centenary year of 2047.

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