The NBAIM was established through a funded project sponsored by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi in the IXth Plan in 2001under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The basic aim of this Bureau is to promote and co-ordinate systematic scientific studies in agriculturally important microorganisms (AIMs) in order to improve the agricultural productivity. The Bureau started functioning at Old NBPGR Building, New Delhi, and on June 1, 2004 it moved to NISST building, Mau Nath Bhanjan, U.P. The Bureau is performing important function as depository of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (AIMs), which will facilitate the process of registration and patenting. Above all, the Bureau helps in understanding and conserving our national heritage of microorganisms, which have not been understood and conserved so far. The Bureau at present has four divisions viz. Microbial Conservation, Microbiology, Microbial Biotechnology and Microbial Isolation & Preservation. Microbiology Conservation division has the objectives to plan short term and long term conservation of AIMs, including obligate parasites on host plants under controlled condition etc. Microbiology division has the objective to identify, characterize and document AIMs.Identification of AIMs is also carried out for the utilization as bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, growth promotion, bio-indicators, bio-

degradation, bio-remediation, bio composting, food processing etc., preparation of monographs of AIMs, synoptical keys for the identification of germplasm collection. Microbial Biotechnology division is vested with biochemical and molecular marker, and diagnostic tools for AIMs. Microbial Isolation and Preservation division will isolate and collect AIMs from different agro climatic zones of India. Besides these, the Bureau has HRD component in which training programme will be organized in the field of molecular identification of AIMs and tools for development of microbial technology and its implementation. In addition Bureau has six cells namely Agriculture Research Information System (ARIS), IPR & Biosafety Cell, Technical Cell, Culture collection Cell, Planning and Monitoring and Coordination Cell, Hindi Cell and Externally Funded Project Cell. A network project on "Application of Microorganisms in Agriculture and Allied Sectors"(AMAAS) with NBAIM as the nodal center was approved during the mid term appraisal of the Xth five year plan, and was formally launched on August 27, 2006. The project is operational at 63 different Institute / SAUs/ Universities in the country. The project is extended for next five years. NBAIM is pool all the available resources and upgrade the facilities to meet the current and future requirement for the conservation and characterization of AIMs in the country. The characterization of microbes is paramount importance, not only from the point of view of protecting the important gene-pool resource, but also for supporting integrated pest and disease management programmes. The identification of indigenous species, strains, races and types of microorganisms would also help in identifying and developing suitable bio-control agents, which in the coming century, will be the main armory for the eco-friendly management of biotic stresses. The Bureau will provide good opportunities for isolating and utilizing genes for conventional and unforeseen products of high environmental and agricultural values. The effort will greatly strengthen the national capability in quarantine and other regulatory matters.

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