Fill in the blank with the appropriate word.

The word ‘sanctioned’, which means ‘approval or permission, especially formal or legal’ is correct here. Other words are incorrect. The Department of Biotechnology has issued guidelines easing norms for research into genetically modified crops and circumventing challenges of using foreign genes to change crops profile. The ‘Guidelines for Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants, 2022’ exempt researchers who use gene-editing technology to modify the genome of the plant from seeking approvals from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), an expert body of the Environment Ministry. The GEAC evaluates research into GM plants and recommends, or disapproves, their release into farmer fields. The final call however is taken by the Environment Minister as well as States where such plants could be cultivated. The Environment Ministry too has sanctioned this exemption.