For Prelims: Geographical indication, Agricultural biodiversity, Traditional crop variety
For Mains: Agriculture: Traditional crops and agricultural biodiversity; Background GK: Bihar geographical indications and awards
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- The Magahi Paan Utpadak Kalyan Samiti received the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award.
- The recipient committee is located in Dhevari, Nawada district.
- Magahi paan has a geographical indication tag.
- The Paan Research Centre providing technical support is located in Islampur.
- Pramod Kumar Mishra presented the award at the Pusa campus in New Delhi.
The news
The Magahi Paan Utpadak Kalyan Samiti, a farmers' group from Dhevari in Nawada district's Hisua block, has been awarded the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The award was presented on Thursday at the Pusa campus in New Delhi by Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. The recognition covers the community's work in conserving traditional crop varieties and biodiversity, with Magahi paan already holding a geographical indication tag.
Officials said the award highlights the collective role of farmers in preserving agricultural heritage. The Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, and the Paan Research Centre, Islampur, provided technical support to the committee. Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh of Bihar Agricultural University said the honour is evidence of farmers' effort and scientist-farmer collaboration, and that the university remains committed to improving the quality of traditional crops and farmers' livelihoods.
Magahi paan Plant Genome Saviour Award: why in the news?
The Plant Genome Saviour Community Award was presented to the Magahi paan farmers' committee in New Delhi on Thursday, marking national recognition for a GI-tagged Bihar crop and the community's role in conserving traditional varieties.
What is the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act?
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act was enacted in 2001 to establish an effective system for protecting plant varieties and the rights of farmers and plant breeders. It led to the creation of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, which administers the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award. The Act recognises the contribution of farming communities in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources. It also contains provisions for benefit-sharing when traditional varieties are used to develop new ones. The legislation followed India's obligations under the TRIPS agreement of the World Trade Organisation, which required member countries to provide intellectual property protection for plant varieties.
What is the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award?
The award is granted by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority to farming communities that have made notable contributions to conserving traditional crop varieties and biodiversity. It recognises collective effort rather than individual achievement, linking local knowledge with the authority's mandate under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
How did the award come to Magahi paan farmers?
The committee received technical support from Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, and the Paan Research Centre, Islampur, which helped document the farmers' traditional knowledge and cultivation practices. The award ceremony was attended by the university's Vice-Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh, Director of Research Dr. A.K. Singh, Regional Director Shivnath Das, and committee members. The recognition is expected to encourage growers and draw attention to preserving agricultural biodiversity.
Bihar connection
Matters for these Bihar exams:BPSCBSSCBihar SIBihar Constable
Magahi paan Plant Genome Saviour Award: facts and terms for exams
- Geographical indication:
- A geographical indication identifies goods as originating in a territory or locality where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to their geographical origin.
- Agricultural biodiversity:
- Agricultural biodiversity includes the variety of plants, animals and other organisms relevant to food and agriculture.
- Traditional crop variety:
- A traditional crop variety is a locally maintained plant variety associated with farmers' cultivation and selection practices.
Magahi paan Plant Genome Saviour Award: why it matters for exams
Exams: BPSC, Bihar SI, Bihar Constable, BSSC
Syllabus: Agriculture: Traditional crops and agricultural biodiversity; Background GK: Bihar geographical indications and awards
Common mistake: Examiners may swap Nawada with Bhagalpur or the Islampur research centre with the award recipient: the recipient committee is based in Nawada, while the centre provided technical support.
Mains question on Magahi paan Plant Genome Saviour Award
The Plant Genome Saviour Community Award recognises farmers' collective role in conserving traditional crop varieties. Examine how such community-based recognition can strengthen agricultural biodiversity and farmers' livelihoods in India.
Stuck? Get it in one tap
Magahi paan is a traditional Bihar crop recognised by a geographical indication tag. A farmers' committee received a national award for helping conserve traditional crop varieties and biodiversity. Scientists and a research centre provided technical support to the farmers.
- Agriculture: Traditional crops and agricultural biodiversity
- Background GK: Bihar geographical indications and awards
Related concepts: Geographical indication, Agricultural biodiversity, Traditional crop variety
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which authority granted the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award to the Magahi paan farmers' committee?
Explanation: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority granted the award. Bihar Agricultural University and the research centre provided technical support, while the committee was the recipient.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements about the Magahi paan award:
- 1.The recipient committee is based in Nawada district of Bihar.
- 2.The Paan Research Centre, Islampur, was the recipient of the award.
- 3.Magahi paan has a geographical indication tag.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct: the committee is in Nawada, and Magahi paan has a geographical indication tag. Statement 2 is incorrect because the research centre provided technical support; the farmers' committee received the award.
- Q3Medium
In which Bihar district is the Magahi Paan Utpadak Kalyan Samiti located?
Explanation: The committee is based in Dhevari in Nawada district. Bhagalpur is associated with Sabour, Islampur is the research centre's location, and New Delhi hosted the award ceremony.
- Q4Medium
What contribution does the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award recognise among farmer communities?
Explanation: The award recognises farmer communities that contribute to conserving traditional crop varieties and biodiversity. Its focus is conservation work rather than organising ceremonies, issuing certificates or conducting examinations.
Frequently asked questions
1. Who received the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award for Magahi paan?
The Magahi Paan Utpadak Kalyan Samiti received the award for conserving traditional crop varieties and biodiversity.
2. Where is the Magahi paan award recipient committee based?
The committee is based in Dhevari, Hisua block, in Bihar's Nawada district.
3. Which institutions supported Magahi paan farmers?
Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, and the Paan Research Centre, Islampur, provided technical support.
4. Does Magahi paan have a geographical indication tag?
Yes. Magahi paan is a traditional Bihar product with a geographical indication tag.
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- Original13 November 2026 · Read story
