NBPGR is the national nodal agency under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) responsible for the management of plant genetic resources (PGR) in India. Its mission is to safeguard the country's rich biodiversity and support crop improvement through germplasm conservation and exchange.

Key Functions:

• Exploration & Collection: Identifies and collects germplasm from diverse agro-climatic zones.
• Characterization & Evaluation: Assesses traits like disease resistance, stress tolerance, and nutritional value.
• Conservation: Maintains over 4.68 lakh accessions in the National Genebank, making it one of the largest in the world.
• Quarantine & Exchange: Regulates import/export of germplasm, including transgenics, ensuring biosecurity.
• Research & Genomic Tools: Develops molecular diagnostics, DNA fingerprinting, and climate-resilient genotypes