State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 16 Sep 2025

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.

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.