The Prime Minister, during a post-budget webinar on March 5, 2025, announced the establishment of a new National Gene Bank to conserve India’s vast genetic resources and ensure food security for future generations. The Ministry of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has issued a press release on this announcement.
The announcement was made during a webinar aimed at fostering collaboration between government, industry, academia, and citizens to translate the budget’s transformative announcements into effective outcomes. The webinar focused on empowering citizens, strengthening the economy, and fostering innovation to achieve “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
A gene bank serves as a repository for genetic material, such as seeds, pollen, and tissue samples, safeguarding plant species from extinction and preserving vital varieties.
India’s first gene bank, established in 1996 by the ICAR-NBPGR in New Delhi, currently houses 0.47 million accessions, including cereals, millets, legumes, oilseeds, and vegetables.
Recognizing the need for expanded conservation efforts, the Ministry of Finance, in the 2025-26 budget, announced the establishment of a second National Gene Bank. This new facility will house 1 million germplasm lines, providing crucial conservation support for both public and private sectors.
India’s Rich Biodiversity and Global Leadership:
India, a biodiversity-rich country with over 811 cultivated crop species and 902 crop wild relatives, plays a pivotal role in preserving plant genetic resources (PGR). The new gene bank will further strengthen India’s position as a leader in global biodiversity conservation.
The new facility will not only safeguard India’s invaluable plant genetic resources but also support international biodiversity initiatives, particularly for SAARC and BRICS nations, providing conservation assistance to countries with limited PGR networks.
With growing threats like climate change, natural disasters, and geopolitical challenges jeopardizing genetic diversity, the creation of this “safety duplicate” gene bank is vital. This redundancy structure will provide a fail-safe for India’s irreplaceable germplasm, ensuring long-term sustainability and global food security.
