• 16 Sep 2025

Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

Why in News?

The Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, recently paid tribute to Sir M. Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary.

Key Points

• About: Born on 15th September 1861 in Karnataka, he was an eminent engineer, scholar, and statesman. 
  • A graduate of the College of Engineering, Pune, he went on to become one of India’s most respected engineers.
• Engineering Contributions:
  • He is best known for his pioneering work in flood control and irrigation projects. His design of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam in Mysuru revolutionized water storage and irrigation.
  • In 1903, he developed an innovative system of automatic water floodgates, which were installed at the Khadakwasla Dam in Pune.
  • He played a critical role in the planning of the city of Hyderabad, improving its drainage and water supply systems.
• Role in Public Service:
  • He served as the Diwan of Mysore (1912–1918) and implemented major industrial and economic reforms.
  • His emphasis on education, public health, and industrialization laid the foundation for economic development in the region.
  • He is widely recognized as an early advocate and practitioner of Economic Planning in India, called the Visvesvaraya Plan, which he presented in a book titled “Planned Economy in India”. 
• Honors and Recognition:
  • In 1955, he was awarded India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, for his exceptional service to the nation.
  • In 1915, he was conferred the title of “Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE)” for his contributions to the public good.
  • Sir M. Visvesvaraya was appointed in 1911 as a “Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE)” by King Edward VII.
  • He received an honorary membership from the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, a fellowship from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and several honorary degrees, including D.Sc., LL.D., and D.Litt., from eight universities in India.
  • He presided over the Indian Science Congress in 1923. 
  • His birth anniversary, 15th September, is celebrated annually as Engineers' Day in India to honor his legacy and contributions to the field of engineering.

Swastik Lotus Garden Opens at NBRI

Why in News?

Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State for Science & Technology, inaugurated the first-of-its-kind Swastik Lotus Garden at the National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow.

KeyPoints

• Objective: The garden is envisioned to serve as a hub for biodiversity conservation while also promoting entrepreneurship. It aims to become a new tourism destination with opportunities in floriculture, wellness, and agri-based industries.
• Biodiversity: 
  • The garden, covering 930 sq. m, features 60 varieties of lotus and 50 species of water lilies from around the world.
  • The garden is home to the world’s first 108-petal lotus, developed at NBRI, Lucknow.
• Conservation Methods: Conservation efforts include advanced genetic methods, light exposure regulation, and scientific treatments to preserve the plants.

NAMOH 108 Lotus

• Developed by CSIR-NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute), Lucknow.
• Named NBRI Namoh 108, this unique variety of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) has 108 petals, symbolizing the religious significance of both the lotus and the number 108.
• It has large, light pink flowers with a maximum diameter of up to 10 inches.
• Unlike other varieties, it flowers almost throughout the year (March-December)
• This elite variety contains high content of nutritional components like amino acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, catechins, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and minerals.
• It is the first lotus variety with a fully sequenced genome for its characteristics.

Sex Sorted Semen Facility at Purnea

Why in News?

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated a state-of-the-art Sex Sorted Semen facility at the Semen Station in Purnea, Bihar. 

Key Points

• About: The Sex Sorted Semen facility, developed under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission with central assistance of ₹10 crore, aims to transform the dairy sector with a production capacity of 5 lakh doses per year.
• Indigenous Technology: The Gausort technology, launched by the Prime Minister on 5th October 2024, is a critical component of this facility. 
  • It enables the sorting of semen to produce female calves with 90% accuracy, which is pivotal in reducing economic burdens on dairy farmers.
• Significance: 
  • The facility ensures that Sex Sorted Semen is available at reasonable rates to farmers, especially in the Eastern and North-Eastern regions, aligning with the 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives.
  • The technology boosts the production of female calves, crucial for dairy farming, offering direct economic benefits to farmers, particularly small, marginal, and landless laborers involved in dairying.
• Purnea Semen Station: 
  • Established with a Central assistance of Rs. 84.27 crores, the Purnea station is one of the largest government-owned semen stations in India and the first of its kind for the Eastern and North-Eastern states.
  • The station is currently producing 50 lakh doses per annum, significantly contributing to the growth of the dairy industry in the region.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• About: The RGM, launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, aims to develop and conserve indigenous bovine breeds and is implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
  • The mission continues as part of the Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna for the period 2021 to 2026 with a budget outlay of Rs. 2400 crore.
• Need: The decline of indigenous bovine breeds, like Punganur(Andhra Pradesh), threatens valuable genetic resources. These breeds are climate-resilient, produce high-quality milk, and adapt well to local environments, highlighting the need for preservation efforts.
• Objectives: RGM aims to boost bovine productivity, promote high-quality breeding, and strengthen Artificial Insemination (AI) services.
  • AI is a reproductive technology that involves manually introducing sperm into a female's reproductive tract to achieve pregnancy.
• Components of RGM:
  • High Genetic Merit: Enhances genetic merit through bull production via progeny testing, Pedigree Selection, genomic selection, and germplasm import. 
    • It strengthens semen stations, implements in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology for assured pregnancies, and sets up breed multiplication farms to scale genetic improvement in livestock.
  • Artificial Insemination Network:  Promotes establishment of Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs) to expand nationwide AI access.
    • RGM implements the National Digital Livestock Mission to improve data management and service delivery. 
  • Conservation of Indigenous Breeds: Support for Gaushalas for the care and preservation of indigenous cattle.
  • Skill Development and Awareness: Focuses on skill development through capacity-building programs, raising farmer awareness, and supporting research and innovation in bovine breeding.
• Funding Pattern: The components of the RGM are largely funded by a 100% grant-in-aid basis, with some specific components involving partial subsidies (e.g., IVF pregnancies, sex sorted semen, breed multiplication farms).

PM Launches National Makhana Board In Bihar

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Makhana Board in Purnea, Bihar as part of the Union Budget 2025 initiative. 

Key Points

• About: This new board aims to strengthen the makhana sector, enhance its production and processing, and expand its export reach globally. 
• Cost: The government has approved a Rs 475 crore development package to support these efforts.
• Focus Areas: The National Makhana Board is set to focus on key aspects of the sector's growth:
  • Raising production standards
  • Improving post-harvest management
  • Introducing innovative technologies
  • Enhancing value addition
  • Building stronger marketing and export linkages
  • Assist farmer-producer organizations, helping them access central schemes
• Ideal Geography:  The state of Bihar contributes to around 90% of India's makhana production, with the crop grown across 15,000 hectares, producing nearly 10,000 tonnes of popped makhana annually.
• The production is concentrated in the Mithilanchal region, covering nine districts in northern and eastern Bihar. 
• Districts like Madhubani, Darbhanga, and Purnea have the perfect wetland ecology for growing makhana.

Impact	Challenges
Market Growth Potential: Better grading, packaging, and branding can make Mithila Makhana a premium international product, raising farmer incomes.	Low Productivity: Farming is labor-intensive, with slow adoption of high-yield varieties.
Support for Mallah Community: Provides socio-economic uplift and jobs for the traditionally marginalized Mallah community.	Lack of Processing Units: Limited local infrastructure forces raw makhana sales at low prices to other states.
Economic Diversification: Boosts agriculture and food processing, supported by new export infrastructure like expanded airports.	Export Barriers: Poor cargo facilities and export hubs push processing to other states, limiting global reach.
Productivity Focus: Promotion of high-yield varieties like Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1.	Export Efforts: Small consignments sent abroad, but large-scale global presence still lacking.

Makhana

• Makhana, or fox nut, comes from the aquatic plant Euryale ferox, which grows in freshwater ponds across South and East Asia. 
  • Often called the ‘Black Diamond’ in its raw dark seed form, it turns white once popped. 
• Makhana is low in calories and fat, high in plant-based protein, and packed with dietary fibre, antioxidants, and essential minerals like magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.
• Makhana has been part of Hindu rituals for centuries.

National Agriculture Conference – Rabi Abhiyan 2025

Why in News?

The two-day ‘National Agriculture Conference – Rabi Abhiyan 2025’ is being organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare at Pusa, New Delhi.

Key Points

• About: This is the first time the Rabi Conference is being held as a two-day event under the initiative of Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

• Theme: The conference’s theme, ‘One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team’, aims to foster coordinated efforts and partnerships in India's agricultural sector.

• Objective: The main goal of the conference is to deliberate on preparations, production targets, and strategies for the Rabi 2025-26 season, ensuring comprehensive planning for the upcoming agricultural season.

  • India's agricultural growth rate stands at 3.7%, the highest globally, which is attributed to the combined efforts of farmers, scientists, and the government’s farmer-friendly policies.

• Focus: Emphasized the importance of agricultural extension work, calling for joint programs by the Central Government, state agriculture departments, agricultural universities, and other related institutions to improve ground-level strategies.
  • The Minister pledged strict action against those selling counterfeit fertilisers, seeds, and pesticides, ensuring only standard-compliant bio-stimulants are sold to prevent farmer exploitation.
• Weather Predictability & Crop Insurance: With increasing unpredictability in weather patterns, crop insurance coverage must be expanded, with a focus on the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to ensure farmer relief.
• Future Agricultural Research: Future agricultural research should focus on solving farmers’ real problems rather than just publishing theoretical papers. The ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ will be carried out in October 2025 to address challenges in farming.