Recently, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) signed two MoUs to boost conservation and public awareness of medicinal plants.

About the Recently Signed MoUs

• MoU 1: NMPB and IshVed-Bioplants Venture
• • Aims to conserve and maintain germplasm of rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) medicinal plants through advanced tissue culture techniques.
  • Focuses on developing cultivation and maintenance protocols to ensure sustainable supply of RET plants for the Ayush industry.

• MoU 2: NMPB, AIIA, and AIIMS
• • Establishes a National Medicinal Plants Garden at AIIMS, New Delhi, through the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA).
  • Seeks to raise public awareness about medicinal plants among patients, students, and visitors by integrating traditional knowledge with modern science.

About National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)

• Apex Body for Medicinal Plants: NMPB is the apex body for conservation, cultivation, trade, and export promotion of medicinal plants in India.
• Establishment: November 2000 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy), Government of India.
  • The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) was initially under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare but is now under the Ministry of AYUSH, reflecting its focus on traditional systems of medicine.
• Initiatives of NMPB:
  • e-CHARAK: Online portal and mobile app enabling trading and information exchange for medicinal plants.
  • Global Ayush Innovation and Investment Summit: Organized buyer-seller meets to strengthen cultivation and supply chains for Medicinal Plants.
  • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Campaign: Distributed over 91 lakh saplings of medicinal plants across 30 states/UTs, promoting cultivation and awareness through “Ayush Aapke Dwaar.”
  • R&D Support under Central Sector Scheme: Funds research projects on conservation, development, and sustainable management of medicinal plants.

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