Agriculture ยท GS3
Standard for safeguarding indigenous crop varieties
One line
The Bureau of Indian Standards released IS 20201:2026 to support safeguarding of indigenous crop varieties and alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 2.
Summary
Traditional varieties can hold traits useful for climate resilience, nutrition, and local adaptation. Conservation works best when it supports farmers' rights, documentation, seed exchange, and continued cultivation.
PYQ pattern
UPSC can connect agrobiodiversity with climate resilience, seed systems, farmers' rights, and food security.
Core notes
- In-situ or on-farm conservation maintains diversity in evolving agricultural systems.
- Ex-situ conservation stores material in gene banks or similar facilities.
- Standardisation can improve documentation and process consistency.
- Conservation should avoid restricting legitimate farmer practices and community knowledge.
Prelims lens
- BIS is India's national standards body.
- SDG 2 concerns ending hunger, food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture.
- A landrace is a locally adapted, genetically diverse crop population.
MCQ 1
On-farm conservation is a form of:
- A. In-situ conservation
- B. Deep-sea mining
- C. Monetary sterilisation
- D. Industrial licensing
Reveal answerHide answer
A
Crop diversity is conserved within the farming systems where it continues to evolve.
MCQ 2
Which institution issued IS 20201:2026?
- A. BIS
- B. RBI
- C. CAG
- D. UPSC
Reveal answerHide answer
A
The Bureau of Indian Standards develops and publishes Indian Standards.
Mains
Question, 10 marks, 150 words: Explain why indigenous crop varieties matter for climate-resilient agriculture.
Approach:
- Discuss genetic diversity and local adaptation.
- Compare on-farm and gene-bank conservation.
- Link farmer knowledge with breeding and nutrition.
- Suggest community seed banks and benefit sharing.