National Gene Bank

Source: DD News

Context: The Union Government has announced the establishment of a Second National Gene Bank to conserve 10 lakh crop germplasm, under the theme “Investing in Innovations” in Budget 2025–26.

• The initiative aims to safeguard India’s agricultural biodiversity and ensure long-term food and nutritional security.

About National Gene Bank (NGB):

• What is a Gene Bank?

• A repository of plant genetic material (seeds, tissue, pollen) designed to conserve biodiversity and protect crop varieties from extinction.

• Organisation Involved: Managed by ICAR – National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.

• Aim: To conserve genetic resources of cultivated and wild crops, enabling sustainable agriculture, food security, and resilience against climate change.

• Technology & Facilities:

• Uses cryogenic storage, long-term seed preservation chambers, DNA fingerprinting, and digital databases for germplasm management. Facilitates distribution to breeders, scientists, and global researchers.

• Uses cryogenic storage, long-term seed preservation chambers, DNA fingerprinting, and digital databases for germplasm management.

• Facilitates distribution to breeders, scientists, and global researchers.

• Key Features:

• Strengthens national and international biodiversity initiatives (e.g., SAARC, BRICS). Supports public-private partnerships in crop improvement and seed conservation. Acts as a fail-safe genetic vault to secure heritage and climate-resilient varieties.

• Strengthens national and international biodiversity initiatives (e.g., SAARC, BRICS).

• Supports public-private partnerships in crop improvement and seed conservation.

• Acts as a fail-safe genetic vault to secure heritage and climate-resilient varieties.

About India’s First National Gene Bank:

• Location: New Delhi, at ICAR-NBPGR headquarters

• Established in: 1996

• Features: Stores 4.71 lakh accessions from 2157 species. Includes cereals (1.7 lakh), legumes (69,200+), oilseeds (63,500+), millets (60,600+), vegetables (30,000). Operates with 12 regional stations across India. Second-largest gene bank globally, contributing to international PGR conservation.

• Stores 4.71 lakh accessions from 2157 species.

• Includes cereals (1.7 lakh), legumes (69,200+), oilseeds (63,500+), millets (60,600+), vegetables (30,000).

• Operates with 12 regional stations across India.

• Second-largest gene bank globally, contributing to international PGR conservation.

About India’s Second National Gene Bank:

• Location: Yet to be finalised

• Announced in: Union Budget 2025–26

• Key Features: Capacity to conserve 10 lakh germplasm lines, doubling India’s gene banking capability. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, focused on advanced genetic storage technologies. Supports future-ready agriculture, climate adaptation, and nutritional security goals. Serves as a safety duplicate gene vault, ensuring redundancy against natural or man-made threats.

• Capacity to conserve 10 lakh germplasm lines, doubling India’s gene banking capability.

• Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, focused on advanced genetic storage technologies.

• Supports future-ready agriculture, climate adaptation, and nutritional security goals.

• Serves as a safety duplicate gene vault, ensuring redundancy against natural or man-made threats.