Botanists from Andhra Pradesh reports a new species Brachystelma nigidianum of apocynaceae

Brachystelama nigidianum (habit)

Botanists from Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangaluru and Department of Botany, Sri Krishanadevaraya University, Andhra Pradesh reported a new species Brachystelma nigidianum from the Nigidi forest near Kadiri, Anantapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh State of India. The reported species is  similar to B. beddomei Hook. f. and B. volubile Hook. f., in its climbing habit and leaf shape, but can be distinguished from these two species by the length of its calyx (9–10 mm long), distinct urceolate-shaped corolla tube, reddish maroon corona and apically connate follicles.

The Union Cabinet, Government of India, Approves Signing the Paris Agreement adopted at COP 21

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval for signing the Paris Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of Parties held in Paris in December 2015.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, will sign the agreement on behalf of India on 22 April 2016 at the high level signature ceremony convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

Adopt Cultivation of Improved Varieties of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants to Enhance the Income: Dr Harsh Vardhan

Dhirendra Kumar
News Curator cum Moderator
Indian Botanists

The Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan, and Vice President, CSIR has urged the farmers and entrepreneurs engaged in cultivation, processing of medicinal and aromatic plants to adopt improved technologies and improved varieties for raising their income. Speaking at a Kisan Mela (farmers’ fair) organized at CSIR-Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants CSIR-CIMAP in Lucknow today, he said, this would also help in production of quality raw material demanded by user industries.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan addressing the farmers

The Minister said that medicinal and aromatic plants are the valuable green wealth of the country. These should be sustainably used for creating livelihood opportunities of poor people residing in rural areas. He also said that there are immense possibilities for promotion of production of medicinal and aromatic plants and industries by startups. Dr Harsh Vardhan called upon the scientists to develop improved technologies for conservation and cultivation of these plants keeping in view the changing climatic conditions and limited as well as diminishing agriculture resources. He said that farmers should be apprised regularly about the new developments being made in the research laboratories by organizing awareness meets, workshops and farmers fairs in different parts of the country.

Dr Harsh Vardhan lauded the efforts made by CSIR-CIMAP in reaching the unreached and said that these efforts be given a new push for making visible impact by creating new avenues for self-employment in rural sector. Expressing his satisfaction on development and release of improved varieties of essential oil bearing lemongrass and anti-malarial drug-producing artemisinin-rich Artemisia annua by CSIR-CIMAP, the Minister pointed out that participation of user industries should be ensured for promotion of each aromatic and medicinal plant so that poor farmers and entrepreneurs should not face difficulty in marketing of their produce.
 

 

Dr. Harsh Vardhan giving a plant to a farmer

Dr Harsh Vardhan further said that today people are inclined towards the use of drugs and cosmetics made from natural resources as ill effects have been reported from the use of synthetic drugs world over. It is also necessary to make initiatives to improve trust of the people towards herbal drugs he added. The Minister said that scientists should standardize the ayurvedic drugs so that their use can be increased in health care of the poor people. Dr Harsh Vardhan also emphasized the need for development of such plant varieties which can withstand vagaries of nature and can be grown in stressed soils ensuring utilization of large tracts of waste lands available in the country.

Other major events organized on the occasion of CIMAP Kisan Mela included interactive meet with farmers and entrepreneurs on the production and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants, sale of publications and high quality planting material of mint, aromatic grasses and other medicinal plant varieties developed by CIMAP, demonstration of improved plant varieties and herbal products, live demonstration of distillation/ processing using CIMAP’s improved units, training on rose water and flower-based agarbatti making, demonstration of ‘Early Mint Technology’, integration of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in traditional cropping system. A unique pilot-scale herbal product manufacturing unit ‘Technology Business Incubator Centre (TBIC)’ was also inaugurated by the chief guest Dr Harsh Vardhan. In TBIC, various machines have been installed to facilitate manufacturing of creams, gels, shampoo, oils, face wash, floor mopping liquid in approx. 100 Kg batch size. The TBIC will help the technology users and entrepreneurs to manufacture the herbal products based on CIMAP technology. This will also serve as an incubator centre for the startups.
 

Dr. Harsh Vardhan meeting the farmers, at a Kisan Mela

The Minister was accompanied by Shri Naveen Chandra Bajpei, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Commission, UP and Shri Praveer Kumar, Agriculture Production Commissioner, UP, Dr. Sudeep Kumar, Head Planning and Performance Division of CSIR, Dr R. A Vishwakarma, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Dr(Mrs.) Madhu Dikshit, Director, CSIR-CDRI, Dr CS Nautiyal, Director, CSIR-NBRI, Dr Alok Dhawan, Director, CSIR-IITR and Prof. AK Tripathi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP.

Representatives from various industries such as IPCA Laboratories, Jindal Drugs, Herbochem Industries, AIMIL Pharma, PIRINIC Pharma, AMORE Herbals, Ajmal Group, Essential Oil Association of India (EOAI), ICEOFF, and Spices Board, SIDBI, etc. and several buyers of medicinal and aromatic plants attended the Kisan Mela. Different laboratories of CSIR such as NBRI, CDRI, IITR and IICT demonstrated their technologies relevant to rural areas. Beneficiaries of CSIR-CIMAP technologies and services together with other companies also exhibited their products by putting up stalls in the Kisan Mela and interacted with the Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion.

About 4000 farmers and entrepreneurs from UP, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha and others states of the country participated in the Kisan Mela.

Environment Ministry Announces Launching of Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships

Dhirendra Kumar
News Curator cum Moderator
Indian Botanists

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has announced the launching of Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships in the name of Late Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam on his 85th birthday. The Post Doctoral Fellowship programme of the Ministry is targeted towards young scientists working in the area of environment and ecology in the country. The target group of this programme are young scientists who have completed their PhD, or are about to complete their PhD in areas related to environment and ecology and possess a good, academic record. The applicants should preferably be below the age of 35 years. The tenure of the fellowship is for a period of three years and the fellowship award includes a monthly fellowship, equivalent to that of a Research Associate, together with an annual research contingency grant of Rs. 1.5 lakh. The Post-Doctoral fellow will also be entitled to House Rent Allowance and other benefits as per the Ministry’s guidelines applicable for Research Associateship.

 

The Ministry proposes to constitute a Committee of Experts headed by Dr. R.A Mashelkar for selection of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Post-Doctoral Research Fellows. The advertisement, calling for applications for the fellowship programme will be brought out by the Ministry shortly and the guidelines for the programme will be uploaded on the Ministry’s website. The main focus of the new fellowship programme and also the ongoing National Environmental Sciences Fellows Programme is to nurture young scientists working in the areas related to environment and ecology for undertaking good quality scientific research under the mentorship of established scientists of the country.

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the people’s President, had an abiding trust and faith on the abilities of the youth of the country to transform India into a global power. He was also firmly convinced that science and technology shall offer solutions to the pressing challenges facing the country, including those of environmental protection and sustainable development. Dr. Kalam had on various occasions, fervently stood for the cause of protection of environment and conservation, so that future generations can have a better tomorrow. 

 

Source: Press Release, Press Information Bureau, India

Now, Ministry of Environment too Revised the Fellowship for JRF, SRF and RA w.e.f 1.10.2014

 Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

Ministry of  Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide their office memorandum F.No.2/6/2013-RE dated 2nd September, 2015, revised the emoluments of research  personnel working in research and development programmes of the ministry.

The revised emoluments are as follows:

S.No   Designation                              Existing                          Revised

1.       Junior Research Fellow                 Rs.16,000/-                    Rs.25,000/-

2.       Senior Research Fellow                Rs.18,000/-                    Rs.28,000/-

3.       Junior Project Fellow                    Rs.10,000/-                    Rs.16,000/-

4.       Senior Project Fellow                    Rs.12,000/-                   Rs.18,000/-

5.       Research Associate -I                    Rs.22,000/-                  Rs.36,000/-

6.       Research Associate -II                   Rs.23,000                    Rs.38,000/-

7.       Research Associate -I                    Rs.24,000/-                  Rs. 40,000/-

Category of Junior Project Fellow and Senior Project Fellow is applicable only when NET qualified candidates are not available for the project sponsored by the ministry.

House Rent Allowances to all the above categories, as per central government norms.

Research Fellows working in the institutes of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and other institutes or projects sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will benefit from this increase in fellowship and their long awaiting expectation will be fulfilled.

For more details, see the office memorandum below    

DOWNLOAD OFFICE MEMORANDUM

 

Agriculture Expert Ramesh Chand appointed as new full time member of NITI Aayog

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of agriculture expert Prof Ramesh Chand as one of the full-time members in the NITI Aayog. 

He has been a member of a task force on agriculture development under NITI Aayog which is formulating strategies to give a boost to the agriculture sector. Shri Ramesh Chand has also headed a government panel on Minimum Support Price and has been working as Director of National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NIAP) in New Delhi since 2010. Before this Dr. Chand served as ICAR National Professor at NCAP (2006 to 2010).

Dr Ramesh Chand

He did his Ph. D in  Agricultural Economics from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. His Ph.D. thesis, submitted to Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, was selected for Jawaharlal Nehru Award of Indian Council of Agricultural Research in recognition of its outstanding Research contributions.

Dr.Chand possess more than 25 years of experience in research and teaching. He worked in senior academic positions as Professor and Head – Agricultural Economics Unit, at Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi University; Professor of Marketing at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; Principal Scientist at NCAP; and Acting Director NCAP. 

He has international experience as visiting professor at University of Wollongong in Australia (2000) and Visiting Fellow at Institute of Developing Economies, Chiba Shi, Japan (2003). Dr. Chand has also worked as consultant for FAO, UNDP, ESCAP, and World Bank. 

 Dr. Chand is author of seven books and nearly hundred research papers published in reputed national and international journals. His books are mostly on agriculture policy and development issues. some of his books are: Agricultural Diversification in India: Potential and Prospects in Developed Region; Trade Liberalisation, WTO and Indian Agriculture: Experience and Prospects;  Trade Liberalisation, WTO and Indian Agriculture: Experience and Prospects.

Served in several high level committees set up by government of India including “Steering Committee on Agriculture for XIth Plan” where he drafted the report of the Committee. He has been awarded for  Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Award of ICAR in 2011. 

The National Institute of Transforming India, NITI Aayog under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been set up in place of place of Planning Commission. It has noted economist Aravind Panagariya as its Vice Chairman while economist Bibek Debroy and former DRDO Chief VKSaraswat along with agriculture expert Ramesh Chand now as full time members. 

Inputs: Press Release, Press Information Bureau, India and http://www.ncap.res.in

NBPGR signed an MoA for transfer of DNA-based GMO Screening Technologies

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with M/s DSS Imagetech Private Limited, Delhi, facilitated by Agrinnovate India Limited (AgIn) on 19^th August, 2015 for transfer of five DNA-based GMO screening technologies:

1. Hexaplex PCR targeting six marker genes(aadA, bar, hpt, nptII, pat and uidA)
2. Duplex TaqMan Real-time PCR targeting P-35S and T-nos
3. Visual Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)-based technology targeting eight transgenic elements (P-35S, T-nos, aadA, nptII, uidA, cry1Ac, cry2Ab, cp4-epsps)
4. Real-time LAMP-based technology targeting eight transgenic elements (P-35S, T-nos, aadA, nptII, uidA, cry1Ac, cry2Ab, cp4-epsps)
5. TaqMan Real-time PCR-based multi-target system covering 47 targets for screening

Photo courtesy: www.nbpgr.ernet.in

How and why DNA based GMO screening technologies are important?

Since decades, controversies are going round the globe with regard to commercialization of GMO. Many countries have approved few crops for commercial production while few others are in process. India has approved experimental field trials for some selected crops. Even though Indian government is committed to promote GM crops,   debate exists on why India does not need GM technology and genetically modified Crops?

Many countries have approved few crops for commercial production while many are in process . Further each nation have their own labelling legislation and trade requirement.

A report, prepared for the department of agriculture, fishries and forestry, government of Australia, summarizes that,

"DNA detection methods are very sensitive, although careful sample preparation is required to extract DNA free from assay inhibition that are naturally present in many food products."

" By varying the DNA sequence, it can be used for general screening to a construct or event specific such as to achieve relative quantification required for compliance with labelling legislation and export of raw produce."

What NBPGR says?

 

NBPGR informed that, these technologies provide efficient GMO screening tools to check the GM status of a sample irrespective of GM crop/trait, in a rapid/cost-efficient way. Visual and real-time LAMP technologies, when combined with fast DNA extraction method, would facilitate on-site GMO screening in farmers fields and at ports of entry.

The commercialization of these technologies in the form of user-friendly kits would help in building the confidence of consumers, assisting in post-release monitoring of GM crops and solving legal disputes, if arise. 

Input References

http://www.nbpgr.ernet.in/News_Details/aid/62.aspx

http://www.daff.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/ag-food/biotech/AGAL_report.pdf

Department of Biotechnology, India launched the “DBT-Pan IIT Centre for Bioenergy” for Research on Advance Bio-Fuel Technologies

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India launched the “DBT-Pan IIT Centre for Bioenergy”, a virtual Centre spread across 5 Indian Institutes of Technology; Bombay, Kharagpur, Guwahati, Jodhpur, and Roorkee and coordinated by IIT Bombay signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on September 3, 2015. 

DBT formalizes virtual centre for research on advance bio-fuel technologies like cyanobacterial bio-fuels, bio-fuels from micro-algae, ligno-cellulosic biomass to bio-fuels and also on techno-economic and life cycle analysis. The collaboration initiated in January 2015 and engaged a research team from the five participating institutes consisting of 32 investigators who have been working on bio-energy and will jointly undertake research activities in the said thematic areas.

The first virtual centre for collaborative research will focus on the thematic areas of research in advance bio-fuel technologies.

Though the first virtual centre, it is the fourth centre in Bio-energy research set up by DBT in addition to the DBT-IOC Centre for Advanced Bioenergy Faridabad, DBT-ICT Centre for Energy Biosciences, Mumbai and DBT-ICGEB Centre for Advanced Bioenergy, New Delhi. This is also the largest among the four Bioenergy Centers in terms of investigator participation.

Memorandum of Agreement was signed between DBT and the participating 5 IITs on Sep 3, 2015 in presence of Prof. K VijayRaghavan, Secretary DBT. The meeting was attended by Dr.RenuSwarup (Senior Advisor, DBT), Prof. Devang Khakhar (Director, IIT Bombay), Prof. Pradipta Banerji (Director, IITRoorkee), Prof.Gautam Biswas ( Director, IIT Guwahati), Dr.Sangita Kasture (Joint Director, DBT), Prof.Pramod Wangikar (Coordinator of the Centre, IIT Bombay), Prof.V.Narayanan (IIT Jodhpur) and Prof. Saikat Chakraborty (IIT Kharagpur).

The main objective of this centre is to develop advanced technologies in the area of biofuels, paving the way for a sustainable solution to the energy crisis. The Centre also aims to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with the bio-energy industry in India.

Source: Press Release, Press Information Bureau, India

Web Enabled Project Management Information System for Department of Bio Technology Projects

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

 

The Union Minister for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched web enabled project management information system for the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) projects. While inaugurating the DBT Strategy Meet at the NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad today, he also unveiled a mobile app for the purpose. The application will be available at http://dbtepromis.nic.in. 

Dr. Harsh Vardhan launching the “eProMIS”,  for the DBT projects

These applications will help registration of new investigators, online submission of proposals, Upload project related documents and even Online tracking of projects, reviewing the proposals and intimation of release of grants. 

Screen Shot of website

 This is expected to avoid delay in processing project proposals and access of information to the applicants on their proposals from anywhere. Delays could be avoided as there can be peer review of the projects online. 

Source: Press Release, Press Information Bureau, India

Environment Minister Calls for Nominations for India Biodiversity Awards 2016 at Tenth Annual Meeting of State Biodiversity Boards

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

The two-day national meeting of the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) organised by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) concluded here today. The meet serves as a platform to share the collective experiences on the implementation of the Biodiversity (BD) Act at national, state and local levels and deliberate the way forward to meet the challenges ahead jointly. This is tenth in the series of such a national conclave since the establishment of the NBA in the year 2003.

The wrap-up session was attended by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar and Mr. Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Representative, UN. The Minister announced the call for nominations for India Biodiversity Awards 2016, which is a collaborative initiative between the Ministry and UNDP-India. The Chairman, NBA informed the Minister about the discussion held on various issues such as formation of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), documentation of Peoples’ Biodiversity Register (PBRs), implementing Access of Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanisms, notification of threatened species and updating the State Biodiversity Action Plan.

Logo belongs to NBA, India

Recognising the need for continuous engagement and constant dialogue with the SBBs as well as strengthening of institutional framework as an important element in the effective implementation of the BD Act, the meeting reviewed the progress made on the resolutions adopted in the Environment & Forest Ministers’ Conference held in April 2015. It is notable that Telangana and Jammu & Kashmir have notified their state-specific rules as a part of compliance of the resolution made in the April meet.

Many SBBs are proactively taking forward the Access of Benefit Sharing (ABS) Regulations 2014 issued by the National Biodiversity Authority in their respective States. During deliberations, the SBBs like Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal shared their best practices on the above score. The experts who participated in the meeting provided clarity on the queries raised by the SBBs, especially on the formation of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), sharing of benefits to the community and interpretation of certain provisions of the Act.

Twenty six State Biodiversity Boards, members of the Authority, Chairpersons of the Expert Committees and Chairperson and Member Secretaries participated in the event. Chairman, NBA and other senior officers of the Ministry also participated in the meeting.

The meeting had been inaugurated by Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Shri Ashok Lavasa, yesterday. 

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003 to implement India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002). The NBA is Autonomous body and that performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory function for Government of India on issue of Conservation, sustainable use of biological resource and fair equitable sharing of benefits of use.

Source: Press Release, Press Information Bureau

Flood and Drought Resistant Seeds Developed by The National Agricultural Research System, India

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) comprising Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities has developed flood/drought tolerant crop varieties for different regions of the country. Important flood and drought tolerant varieties/hybrids of different crops are listed below. 

Important flood and drought tolerant varieties/hybrids of different crops

The seeds of flood/drought tolerant varieties of different crops are made available to the farmers in the area/state/region of recommendation. Besides, under technology demonstration component of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture some of these varieties are also demonstrated to farmers in various flood/drought prone regions of the country.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan in Rajya Sabha on July 31st 2015.

 

[Source: Press Release, Press Information Bureau, India]

Foundation stone for National Agricultural Research Institute in Barahi, Jharkhand to be laid by PM on 28th June

Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh today reviewed the preparation for laying of foundation stone of National Agricultural Research Institute in Barahi, Jharkhand.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agri Minister with ICAR officers inspecting the site for NARI

The foundation stone will be laid by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, on 28th June, 2015. Shri Singh today visited the venue alongwith DG, ICAR, Dr. S. Ayyappan and Agriculture Ministry Officials, Government of India. Minister had detailed discussion with officials about the progress of the proposed Institutes’ inaugural.

Barhi stands at the crossing of  Grand Trunk Road (NH2), NH31 and NH33. Hence it connects well through major cities like Ranchi, Patna, Gaya, Dhanbad.

28 जून 2015 को झारखण्ड राज्य के बरही में होने वाले राष्ट्रीय कृषि अनुसंधान संस्थान का शिलान्यास स्थल जहाँ आदरणीय... http://t.co/Kbevz9msYd

— Radha Mohan Singh (@RadhamohanBJP) June 22, 2015

Also Read
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh lays foundation stone of Indian Institute of Agricultural Bio-Technology at Ranchi, Jharkhand

Prime Minister to Start Tree Plantation Drive on World Environment Day; Plantation Programmes Across India. What about you?

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

New Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will start a tree plantation campaign by planting a sapling at his official residence, 7 RCR on June 5, to mark the World Environment Day. Addressing the media here today ahead of the World Environment Day, Minister of State of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge), Shri Prakash Javadekar said that the captain of the Indian Cricket team, Virat Kohli and international wrestler, Sushil Kumar will participate in a function to plant saplings at Paryavaran Bhawan. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is celebrating the World Environment Day on June 5, 2015 by planting saplings across the country. 

CSIR institute CIMAP, succeeds in Whole Genome Sequencing of Ocimum sanctum (Holy basil -Tulsi)

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, has published whole genome sequence of Ocimum sanctum, the wonder plant ‘Holy basil’ or ‘Tulsi'. This is the first report of complete genome sequence of a traditional and most respected medicinal plant of India, using a composite next generation sequencing technologies.

Considering the metabolic and therapeutic potential of this revered plant, the availability of whole genome sequence is the first step to understand and unravel the secrets of this ‘mother of all herbs’ and to provide scientific validity to the traditional claims of its utility in diverse medicinal usage.

‘Holi basil’ or ‘Tulsi’ is rich in phenylpropanoids, terpenoids and their derivatives, and many of these are implicated for different therapeutic activities. The availability of the genome sequence now opens the possibility to identify genes involved in producing therapeutic molecules and to produce them in vitro. This will also facilitate identification of not yet identified genes involved in the synthesis of important secondary metabolites in this plant. Specific pathway related genes identified or mined in this genome could be used for the production of secondary metabolites following synthetic biology approaches. The development of molecular tools and genomic resources will accelerate molecular breeding and ultimately the utility of Holy basil in medical community.

Bio Innovation Centre Inaugurated at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Tiruvananthapuram

Bio Innovation Centre of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) in Tiruvananthapuram was inaugurated today by Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.

Inaugurating the first phase of the Bio Innovation Centre of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) in Tiruvananthapuram today, the Minister said, “I see ten years down the road a $ 100 billion industry which will be the powerhouse of not only India’s pharmaceutical sector, but will be on a global scale. At this rate of growth it looks likely to be bigger than the domestic pharmaceutical industry.”

A Report on Conference of State Environment and Forest Ministers

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator and Moderator

Indian Botanists

A two days conference of State Environment and Forest Ministers was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 6-7th April 2015. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the conference and said, India, which has had a long tradition of living in harmony with nature, should lead the global fight against climate change.

The Conference was attended by 34 State Ministers of Environment and Forest, as well as 340 senior State government officials from Environment and Forest and Urban Development. Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Shri Nripendra Mishra and Cabinet Secretary, Shri Ajit Seth were among those present on the occasion.

Union Agriculture Minister Emphasised the Need for Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern Region of the Country.

Inaugurating a workshop on “Agriculture Scenario in Eastern India, Review and Future Prospects”, in Pusa, New Delhi today, Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that Proper care has to be taken by balanced usage of fertilisers in bringing 2nd Green revolution, particularly in eastern region of the country. He emphasised that indiscriminate use of the urea and chemical fertilisers may be avoided. He underlined the importance of organic farming taking into consideration the ecological aspects.

Min of HRD also revised the rates of Ph.D. Scholarship in AICTE funded & Centrally Funded Technical Institutions.

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While Agriculture Feeds the Nation, Seeds Feed Agriculture: Radha Mohan Singh

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists

Bamboo Requires Scientific Management for its Optimum Utilisation: Union Agriculture Minister

Dhirendra Kumar

News Curator cum Moderator

Indian Botanists