Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh Reviews Botanical Survey of India Programmes, Calls for Innovation-Driven Biodiversity Research
By Antara Tripathy | IBG NEWS
Kolkata, July 3, 2026: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, on Friday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) at its headquarters in Kolkata, emphasising the need to strengthen scientific research, integrate traditional knowledge with modern science, and accelerate biodiversity conservation efforts across the country.
The high-level review brought together senior scientists and officials of the Botanical Survey of India to assess the organisation’s scientific programmes, research initiatives, institutional priorities and future roadmap aimed at enhancing India’s botanical research and conservation capabilities.
Welcoming the Minister, Dr. Kanad Das, Director of the Botanical Survey of India, presented a detailed overview of BSI’s scientific achievements, ongoing research projects, national and international collaborations, digitisation initiatives, publications, capacity-building programmes and strategic priorities. He highlighted the institution’s pivotal role in the exploration, documentation, taxonomy, conservation and sustainable utilisation of India’s rich floral diversity.
During the meeting, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh reviewed the organisation’s ongoing activities and appreciated the Botanical Survey of India’s sustained contribution towards generating authentic scientific knowledge on India’s vast plant wealth. He reaffirmed the Central Government’s commitment to promoting excellence in botanical sciences and supporting scientific institutions working towards biodiversity conservation.
Addressing the scientists and officials, the Minister stressed the importance of integrating India’s traditional knowledge systems with contemporary scientific research, stating that such a convergence could play a crucial role in addressing emerging environmental challenges, strengthening biodiversity conservation, restoring ecosystems and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
Highlighting the importance of innovation, Shri Singh encouraged BSI scientists to adopt interdisciplinary, technology-enabled and innovation-driven research approaches capable of delivering practical and evidence-based solutions for environmental management, climate resilience and sustainable natural resource management.
The Minister also underscored the significance of taxonomy, describing it as the foundation of biodiversity conservation. He called upon scientists to intensify efforts towards documenting India’s diverse flora while strengthening collaborations with universities, research institutions and local communities. He further advocated expanding digital documentation, scientific outreach and citizen participation to enhance public awareness about biodiversity conservation.
Reiterating the Government of India’s vision of environmental stewardship and sustainable development, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh urged the Botanical Survey of India to continue pursuing scientific excellence by embracing emerging technologies, collaborative partnerships and innovative research frameworks. He expressed confidence that BSI would continue to play a leading role in conserving India’s invaluable botanical heritage and advancing the country’s leadership in global biodiversity science.
Shri Ved Prakash Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), also participated in the review meeting and shared valuable insights on strengthening institutional coordination and enhancing the effectiveness of ongoing scientific programmes.
The meeting was attended by several senior scientists and officials of the Botanical Survey of India, including Dr. S. S. Dash, Dr. K. Karthigeyan, Dr. Pratibha Gupta, Dr. Manas Bhowmick, Dr. Dinesh Kumar Agrawala, Dr. Rashmi Dubey, along with representatives from various regional centres and scientific divisions.
The review concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening botanical research, accelerating scientific innovation, expanding conservation-oriented initiatives and advancing the Botanical Survey of India’s mission of documenting, conserving and sustainably managing India’s extraordinary plant diversity for the benefit of present and future generations.
