Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a post-budget webinar on March 5, 2025, announced the establishment of a new Gene Bank to conserve India’s vast genetic resources. This initiative aims to ensure long-term food security and safeguard agricultural biodiversity for future generations. The announcement aligns with the government’s broader vision of sustainable development and innovation-led growth under the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework.
A gene bank plays a crucial role in preserving genetic material, including seeds, pollen, and tissue samples from various plant species. By preventing their extinction and maintaining essential crop varieties, gene banks contribute significantly to agricultural resilience.
India’s first National Gene Bank was established in 1996 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in New Delhi. This facility, supported by 12 regional stations across the country, has been instrumental in conserving vital crop germplasms for research, conservation, and breeding.
As of January 15, 2025, the existing Gene Bank houses approximately 0.47 million accessions, comprising cereals, millets, legumes, oilseeds, and vegetables. Recognizing the growing need for enhanced conservation, the Ministry of Finance has announced the establishment of a second National GenBank in the 2025-26 budget. This state-of-the-art facility will accommodate one million germplasm lines, offering critical support to both public and private sectors engaged in genetic resource management.
The establishment of India’s second National Gene Bank is set to significantly enhance the nation’s capacity to preserve plant genetic resources. This initiative aligns with global conservation efforts, including India’s Seed Vault in Chang La, Ladakh, and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway.
The new facility will help safeguard native, traditional, and rare plant varieties, ensuring germplasm accessibility for future generations and preventing genetic erosion due to habitat loss or overexploitation.
India, known for its rich biodiversity, is home to over 811 cultivated crop species and 902 wild crop relatives. Preserving these genetic resources is crucial for enhancing agricultural resilience, ensuring food security, and addressing climate change challenges.
The new GenBank will not only strengthen India’s conservation efforts but also boost international biodiversity initiatives, particularly extending support to nations in the SAARC and BRICS regions that lack well-established conservation networks.
With climate change, natural disasters, and geopolitical uncertainties posing significant threats to genetic diversity worldwide, the second GenBank will serve as a crucial safety net. This initiative ensures the long-term preservation of irreplaceable germplasm, reinforcing India’s role as a global leader in agricultural biodiversity conservation.
The post-budget webinar served as a platform for collaboration between government bodies, industry leaders, academia, and citizens, facilitating discussions on translating budget announcements into tangible outcomes. With a focus on empowering people, strengthening the economy, and fostering innovation, the deliberations aimed at driving sustainable growth, technological leadership, and workforce development.
First published on: 06 Mar 2025, 05:29 IST