Consider the following statements : Statement-I : India does not import apples from the United States of America. Statement-II : In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

Statement-I is incorrect. India does import apples from the United States of America, among other countries (like China, Chile, New Zealand, Italy). In fact, the U.S. has historically been one of the significant suppliers of apples to India. While there have been temporary tariff issues or trade disputes, apple imports from the U.S. are a regular feature of India's fruit imports. For instance, in 2023, India lifted additional retaliatory duties on U.S. apples, which was a significant trade development.

Statement-II is correct. In India, the import of Genetically Modified (GM) food is strictly regulated. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the primary regulatory body for the environmental release of GMOs and GM products. Any import of GM food or products requires specific approval from the competent authority (GEAC) after rigorous safety assessments, and currently, there is no blanket approval for GM food imports for direct human consumption. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also has a role in setting standards for GM food imports.

Therefore, Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.