Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-20082025-265540
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 3681]
NEW DELHI, MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025/SHRAVANA 27, 1947
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(Department of Agriculture And Farmers Welfare)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 18th August, 2025
S.O. 3785(E). In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 45 and clause (lvi) of sub-
section (2) of section 96 of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 (53 of 2001), the Central
Government hereby makes the following rules namely:
1. Short title and commencement.-(1) This rule may be called the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights
(Utilisation of National Gene Fund for conservation and sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources) Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Applicant and Application for Utilisation of National Gene Fund. (1) The Central or State Government
organisation, Research Institute of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Department of Biotechnology and Department of
Science and Technology, State Agricultural Universities, Central Agricultural Universities, the Societies registered
under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and registered Trust or Non-Governmental organization and farmers
group or organization or Farmers Producer Organisations engaged in the conservation of plant genetic resources
may apply in the manner for utilising the National Gene Fund for in-situ and ex-situ conservation of plant genetic
resources and strengthening the capability of the Panchayat in carrying out such conservation and sustainable use.
Individual farmer or farmer group may apply in collaboration with,(a)government research institution or State
Agricultural Universities or Central Agricultural Universities; and (b) for funding the operation of Community Seed
Banks.
(2) Every year Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority shall invite proposals as specified in
the First Schedule which shall be an application for utilising the National Gene Fund.
(3) The application has to be forwarded through the endorsing authorities mentioned in the application form.
(4) The applications received on or before the last date shall be screened administratively and placed before the
Selection and Monitoring Committee referred to in rule 3.
3. Selection and Monitoring Committee (hereinafter in these rules referred to as Committee) -(1)The Selection
and Monitoring Committee shall be constituted by the Chairperson of the Authority and, it shall consist of the following
namely:
(i) A Scientist of outstanding caliber and eminence with substantial practical experience in the field of plant
genetics or breeding research or management of agro-biodiversity or seed system – Chairperson;
(ii) Not less than eight persons of the Committee in the following category namely:-
(a) representative from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Not below the rank of
Deputy Commissioner)-member;
(b) representative from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Director, National Bureau of Plant
Genetic Resources)-member;
(c) representative from the National Biodiversity Authority-member;
(d) one representative of State Agricultural University or Central Agricultural University (Not below the
rank of Director of Research) - member;
(e) one Scientist (not below level-14) or expert with experience or specialization in conservation of Plant
Genetic Resources and Seed Banks - member;
(f) one representative from the Non-Governmental organization dealing with Plant Genetic Resources
Conservation or Operation of Community Seed Banks – member;
(g) member of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority representing farmers or
women or tribal Organisation – member; and
(h) Director of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research or Indian Council of Forestry Research
and Education or Department of Biotechnology or Department of Science and Technology institute -
member.
(2) A Registrar nominated by the Chairperson shall be the Member-Secretary of the committee.
(3) The quorum of the committee including the Chairperson shall be five.
(4) The Selection and Monitoring Committee shall select the applicants for conservation of Plant Genetics
Resources or for operation of Community Seed Banks based on a set a selection criteria as specified.
(5) The tenure of the Committee shall be for a period of three years from its date of constitution.
4. Selection Criteria. - (1)The Committee shall process the applications on the basis of following criteria namely:-
(a) such years of experience of the applicant has in conservation of Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Local
or Traditional Varieties or different Crop Species or in operating community seed banks;
(b) any prestigious awards or rewards or recognition received for conservation or Community Seed Bank
activities by such applicant;
(c) the number of Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Local or Traditional Varieties or Crop Species being
conserved currently;
(d) the acre of land area under conservation or Seed production activity authenticated by records;
(e) any entry in the People's Biodiversity Registers or other entries in any official register;
(f) infrastructure already developed or established for conservation or Community Seed Bank activities;
(g) innovative practices adopted in conservation of Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Local or Traditional
Varieties or Crop Species or maintenance of Community Seed Bank;
(h) any grant already received and spent for similar activities from the Protection of Plant Varieties and
Farmers' Rights Authority earlier or any other sources supported by Certified Utilisation Certificates;
(i) any documentation of Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Local or Traditional Varieties or Crop Species
or Community Seed Bank activities, any coverage or publication in a reputed Journal or Newspaper (Copy
to be attached);
(j) in case of collaboration projects, the role of the applicant in executing the projects for conservation of
Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Local or Traditional Varieties or Crop Species or operating
Community Seed Banks;
(k) scope of use of the germplasm for development of new variety;
(l) number of farmers or farming communities involved in the conservation of Farmers Varieties or Land
Races or Local or Traditional Varieties or Crop Species or Community Seed Bank;
(m) size of the community seed bank, amount of seed or planting material produced or supplied, and the
number of beneficiary farmers particularly women farmers;
(n) any self-sustaining financing model envisioned for future after the project period;
(o) the extent of funding required and its year-wise break up vis-à-vis activities planned;
(p) remoteness of the location of the conservation activities of the community seed banks;
(q) any farmers' variety registered with Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority already
(Registration number, Plant Species and denomination to be provided) or submitted for registration or
recorded in People's Biodiversity Register;
(r) the technology involved in the operation of Community Seed Bank; and
(s) whether any training or capacity building programme already conducted for the Panchayats in the past for
strengthening Plant Genetic Resources conservation activity.
(2) The Committee shall screen the proposals based on the above criteria and short-list them for grant.
5. Funding-
The funding of the project shall be as follows:
(a) A selected project shall be funded for an initial period of three years extendable upto a maximum period
of five years subject to the decision of Committee based on physical and financial progress.
(b) The extent of funding shall be decided by the Committee depending on the importance, extent of work
involved, number of Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Local or Traditional Varieties or Crop species
to be conserved, reasonable infrastructure and manpower required.
(c) The funding for any particular project shall not normally exceed Rupees Fifteen Lakhs Only.
(d) The maximum amount that may be spent in each of the financial year for conservation of plant genetic
resources from the National Gene Fund shall be upto 70 per cent of the interest accrued to the National
Gene Fund bank deposits.
(e) The first year funding shall be released after selection of the proposal followed by signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding and issue of sanction.
(f) Subsequent year fund release shall depend on satisfactory progress and receipt of Statement of
Expenditure and Utilisation Certificate of the previous year.
(g) The Memorandum of Understanding to be executed between the applicant and Protection of Plant
Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority shall contain a clause for recovery of the money released in
case of non-execution of the project in a time bound manner.
(h) An applicant may be considered for funding a new proposal only after successful completion of the
earlier sanctioned project.
(i) Due procedure and provisions of the General Financial Rules are to be followed in procurement of goods
or services in the project
(j) For strengthening the capability of panchayat, funding to the applicants shall also be provided for
conduct of awareness and training programmes in carrying out conservation and sustainable use of Plant
Genetic Resources and the same maybe mentioned in the application and the extent of funding for such
Training and Awareness programmes shall be as per existing guideline of the Authority.
6. Miscellaneous.- (1) The proposals shall be invited by advertisement in the National Newspapers and also on the
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority website.
(2) The applications received by the Authority on or before the last date shall be considered.
(3) The proposal has to be complete with specific objectives, year-wise activity chart with time line, year-wise
budget required, manpower and infrastructure needs, justification for the budget required and expected output
and outcome.
(4) Half-yearly and annual progress reports are to be submitted.
(5) The progress shall be monitored by the Committee, annually and, if, found satisfactory, only then future grant
shall be released.
FIRST SCHEDULE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES & FARMERS' RIGHTS AUTHORITY
PLANT AUTHORITY BHAWAN, DPS MARG, OPP. TODAPUR
NEW DELHI-110012
See rule 2 (2)
APPLICATION FORM
Conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources including in-situ and ex-situ collections and for
strengthening the capability of the Panchayat in carrying out such conservation and sustainable use or Operation of
Community Seed Banks
Year ____________
| | |
| :-- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1. | Name of the applicant (ALL CAPITALS) |
| | |
| 2. | Legal Status of the Applicant Central or State government organisation, Research Institute of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Department of Biotechnology and Department of Science and Technology, State Agricultural Universities, Central Agricultural University, the Societies registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and registered Trust or Non-Governmental organization and farmers group or organization or Farmers Producer Organisations. Individual farmer or farmer group may apply in collaboration with a Government research institution or State Agricultural Universities or Central Agricultural University. (Copy of Certificate of Incorporation or Registration) |
| | |
| 3. | Details of registration number and year |
| | |
| 4. | Postal address (for correspondence) Panchayat or village |
| | |
| | Block |
| | Post Office |
| | District |
| | State or Union Territory |
| | Pin |
| | Telephone (if any) |
| | E-mail (if any) |
| 5. | Whether the applicant is a Woman Farmer or Women Farmers' Organisation or Women Farming Community or Women Self Help Group involved in conservation of Plant Genetic Resources or running Community Seed Bank |
| | |
| 6. | Whether the location of the conservation activities or Community Seed Bank is in remote area which is difficult to access? If yes, give details. |
| | |
| 7. | Number of Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Traditional Varieties or different Crop Species in which conservation efforts or Community Seed Banks are being made. |
| | |
| 8. | Experience of applicant in conservation of Plant Genetic Resources or Operating Community Seed Banks (in years) |
| | |
| 9. | Any prestigious awards or rewards or recognition received for conservation of Plant Genetic Resources or Community Seed Bank activities by the applicant. |
| | |
| 10. | Land Area (in acre) under conservation of Plant Genetic Resources or seed production activity authenticated by records |
| | |
| 11. | Copy of extract of entry in People's Biodiversity Register or other entries in any official register. |
| | |
| 12. | Infrastructure already developed or established for conservation or Community Seed Bank activities |
| | |
| 13. | Innovative practices adopted in conservation or maintenance of Community Seed Banks. |
| | |
| 14. | Any grant already received and spent for similar activities from Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority earlier or any other sources supported by Certified Utilisation Certificates. |
| | |
| 15. | Any documentation of the conserved Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Traditional Varieties or different Crop Species and their wild relatives or Community Seed Bank activities as reported in reputed journals and newspapers (List of documents along with copy of front page be provided). |
| | |
| 16. | In case of collaboration projects, the role of the applicant in executing the projects for conservation of Plant Genetic Resources or operating Community Seed Banks. |
| | |
| 17. | Scope of use of the Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Traditional Varieties or Crop Species for development of new variety; a) details to be provided if already used in the past with examples duly certified by appropriate agency. b) If any farmers' variety already registered with Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, the crop variety denomination, year of registration and registration number be provided. |
| | |
| 18. | Number of farmers or farming communities involved in the conservation of Plant Genetic Resources or Community Seed Bank programme. |
| | |
| 19. | Size of the community seed bank, amount of seed or planting material produced or supplied and the number of beneficiary farmers particularly women. |
| | |
| 20. | Any self-sustaining financing model envisioned for future after the project period. (Brief description be provided) |
| | |
| 21. | The extent of funding required and its year-wise break up vis-à-vis activities planned. |
| | |
| 22. | Detailed and complete proposal with specific objectives, year-wise activity chart with time line, year-wise budget required, manpower and infrastructure needs, justification for the budget required and expected output and outcome. (To be attached along with the duly filled application) |
| | |
| 27. | Brief summary of the project (in 100 words) |
| | |
| 28. | Outline of the proposed work plan for utilization of the grant for in-situ or ex-situ conservation of Farmers Varieties or Land Races or Traditional Varieties or Crop Species or operation of Community Seed Banks. |
| | |
| 29. | Details of training or awareness programmes to be provided to panchayats in strengthening their capability to carry out conservation and sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources. |
| | |
| 30. | Provide name of nearby Krishi Vigyan Kendra or Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institute or State Agriculture University and specify linkages or collaborations, if any. |
All the details stated above are true to the correct of my knowledge and belief.
Name/Signature of Applicant/ Authorised person with seal
Place:
Date:
Note:
1. Please sign each page of the Application Form.
2. For details or information in any column, extra pages can be attached as Annexure.
3. Declaration to be attached.
CERTIFICATE
It is hereby certified that the applicant named in this application is being conserving Farmers Varieties or Land Races
or Traditional Varieties or Crop Species or is operating Community Seed Bank for the benefit of farmers
for number of years.
The said activities are carried out within the jurisdiction of the undersigned.
(Name, Designation and Signature with seal)
(To be certified by Chairperson/Secretary of the Concerned Panchayat Biodiversity Management Committee or
Concerned Block / District Agricultural Officer or Director of Research of Concerned State Agriculture University or
Director of the concerned Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute or Concerned District Tribal
Development Office).
[F.No. 20-3/2024-STU-I]
AJEET KUMAR SAHU, Jt. Secy.
Note: The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, vide number G.S.R. 738(E) dated the
12th September, 2003 and were last amended vide number G.S.R. 803(E) dated the 16th November, 2021.
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and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. GORAKHA NATH