Context:
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the establishment of a second National Gene Bank. This initiative aims to safeguard India's agricultural biodiversity, support sustainable farming systems, and strengthen the country's position as a leader in global biodiversity conservation.
The Ministry of Finance has announced the establishment of the second National Gene Bank in the 2025-26 budget. This new facility will be capable of housing 10 lakh (1 million) germplasm lines, significantly enhancing India’s ability to conserve a vast array of plant genetic resources.
What is a Gene Bank?
A Gene Bank is a facility designed to store genetic material, such as seeds, pollen, or tissue samples, collected from various plant species. The primary objective of a Gene Bank is to protect these species from potential extinction and to preserve vital varieties for future use. This stored genetic material plays a crucial role in research, conservation, and the breeding of crops suited to changing environmental conditions.
About India’s First Gene Bank
India’s first Gene Bank was established in 1996 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in New Delhi.
It has 12 regional stations across the country to collect and store vital crop germplasms, which are the genetic material necessary for agricultural innovation and biodiversity conservation.
As of January 2025, this Gene Bank stores around 0.47 million accessions, which include key crops such as cereals, millets, legumes, oilseeds, and vegetables.
Significance of the Second Gene Bank
The creation of a second Gene Bank is a pivotal step in reinforcing India’s leadership in global biodiversity conservation. This new facility will not only help preserve India’s invaluable plant genetic resources but also bolster international biodiversity initiatives.
By collaborating with countries in the SAARC and BRICS regions, the second Gene Bank will support biodiversity conservation efforts worldwide, assisting nations that may lack established plant genetic resource networks.
Challenges and Opportunities
India’s agricultural biodiversity faces increasing threats from climate change, natural disasters, and geopolitical uncertainties. The creation of a second Gene Bank addresses these challenges by providing a redundancy structure for the preservation of India’s irreplaceable germplasm.
This facility will act as a fail-safe, ensuring the long-term security of critical plant genetic resources. By safeguarding these resources, the second Gene Bank plays a crucial role in sustaining global food security and addressing the challenges posed by a rapidly changing environment.
Conclusion
The establishment of the second National Gene Bank is a monumental step towards preserving agricultural biodiversity and securing the future of food in India. It underscores India’s commitment to sustainable farming systems, agricultural innovation, and global biodiversity conservation. This initiative will not only ensure food security for future generations but also contribute to the global effort to preserve genetic resources and combat the threats to biodiversity.
