<h1>National Gene Bank (NGB)&nbsp;</h1> <h2>Context:</h2> <ul><li>Recently, the world’s second-largest refurbished state-of-the-art National Gene Bank was inaugurated at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Pusa, New Delhi.</li></ul> <h2>About:</h2> <ul><li>The National Gene Bank (NGB) was established in the year 1996.</li></ul> <ul><li>Its purpose is to conserve the Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future generations in the form of seeds, genomic resources, pollen, etc.</li></ul> <ul><li>National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources is meeting the need of in-situ and ex-situ germplasm conservation through Delhi Headquarters and 10 regional stations in the country.</li></ul> <ul><li>NGB has four kinds of facilities to cater to long-term as well as medium-term conservation, namely: </li><li class="ql-indent-1">Seed Genebank (- 18°C)</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Cryogenebank (-170°C to -196°C)</li><li class="ql-indent-1">In vitro Genebank (25°C)</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Field Genebank</li></ul> <ul><li>Presently it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest have been imported from other countries.</li></ul> <h2>Other similar projects:</h2> <ul><li>The&nbsp;Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway&nbsp;houses the world’s largest collection of seeds.</li></ul> <ul><li>India’s seed vault&nbsp;is at&nbsp;Chang La (Ladakh)&nbsp;in the Himalayas.</li></ul> <ul><li>National Animal Gene Bank,&nbsp;established at the&nbsp;National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR - Karnal, Haryana),&nbsp;has the objective of conserving the indigenous livestock biodiversity.</li></ul>