The North East Region of India is a treasure house of plant, animal and microbial resources. The biodiversity of the region includes not only tropical and sub-tropical biota but those of temperate and alpine regions due to its altitudinal gradient. The Himalayan Bio-resource Mission, a flagship initiative of the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India was launched in the year 2021. Department of Biotechnology have been at the forefront of funding research in Himalayan Region of India to scientifically address challenges specific to these regions.

In order to further promote the bio-resources of the Himalayas of Northeast Region of the country, the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India invites Proposals in the ​“Himalayan Bio-resource Mission Programme of NER”.

The Aim of the Call is to invite and support ​“translational and transformative proposals creating opportunities for increasing productivity in the region.

1. The proposal should necessarily involve Science (Institutes in Indian Himalayan Region of the NER) and engagement with Society.
2. The focus may be on promotion of high-value cash crops (including generation of quality planting material and captive cultivation) and better land utilization of the region. The aim should be to increase the yields.
3. The focus may include microbial resources of the Region since there is enormous potential to leverage the rich invisible biodiversity.
4. The proposal may include value-addition of various bioresources based on the rich traditional knowledge available in these areas along with post-harvest management. These bioresources may include medicinal and aromatic plants, vegetable and fruits, unique livestock, fishes, insects and other selected faunal species that are at risk of overharvesting and /​or hunting from their natural habitats.
5. The efforts should also include on developing climate resilient varieties of the selected crops of the region, which can assure the desired yield to the farmers in view of the climate change.
6. Other priorities are food and nutrition, studies on wild life, water, soil etc.

Interested and eligible researchers should submit proposals online through DBT electronic project management system, ​“eProMIS‟ (http://​dbtepromis​.nic​.in/​Login…) under the ​“Submit Proposal under Calls” selecting the area, ​“NER Programme”

For more details click here