🌍🚀 Seeds in Space: India’s Ladakh Crops Head to the International Space Station

A UPSC Perspective by Suryavanshi IAS

🔍 Context:

In a remarkable fusion of agriculture, space science, and international collaboration, seeds of seabuckthorn and buckwheat grown in Ladakh's cold desert are now part of an experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, involving NASA’s Crew-11, represents India’s contribution to space agriculture through the Bengaluru-based start-up Protoplanet, in partnership with Jaguar Space, a U.S. bioastronautics firm.

🛰️ Key Highlights:

Plants Sent: Seabuckthorn and Himalayan tartary buckwheat (gluten-free, nutrient-rich)
From: Cold deserts of Ladakh, India
By: Protoplanet, a Bengaluru-based space startup
Mission: NASA's Crew-11, launched August 1, 2025
Experiment Goals: Study seed behavior under microgravity, examine gene activation and metabolic pathways
Global Scope: Seeds from 11 nations, representing all 5 continents, for biodiversity and climate resilience research
Future Use: Evaluate food security for long-duration space missions

🧭 Relevance to UPSC Syllabus

🔹 GS Paper 1: Geography

Agro-climatic zones of India (e.g., Ladakh)
Cold desert ecosystem and crop adaptation

🔹 GS Paper 2: International Relations

India-U.S. cooperation in science & technology
Role of space diplomacy and global partnerships

🔹 GS Paper 3: Science & Technology, Environment, Agriculture

Indian contribution to space research
Biotechnology, gene activation in microgravity
Climate-resilient crops
Food security in space & Earth
Start-up ecosystem in Indian space research

📌 Importance for UPSC Prelims & Mains

Involves cutting-edge biotechnology
Integrates space-based agriculture, a hot theme under sustainable development
Highlights India's innovation ecosystem (startups)
Connects to SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 13: Climate Action

📚 Previous UPSC Prelims Questions (Past 8 Years) with Explanations:

1. Prelims 2020 – GS Paper I

Q. What is the importance of the term "Interest Coverage Ratio" of a firm in India?
(This was a tricky economic term, but other questions in the same paper relate to sustainable agriculture.)

🔎 Relevance: UPSC frequently asks about terms related to agriculture, sustainability, and biotech—terms like microgravity, genetic engineering, agri-tech, food security are potential future targets.

2. Prelims 2021 – GS Paper I

Q. With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements:

Solar power can be used for running surface pumps and not for submersible pumps.
Solar power can be used for running centrifugal pumps and not the ones with piston.

🔑 Correct Answer: D. Neither 1 nor 2

🔎 Relevance: Shows how renewable technologies for agriculture are in UPSC scope. Space-based agriculture & seed experiments fit in the same domain of innovation for agri-solutions.

3. Prelims 2018 – GS Paper I

Q. With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:

GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant resistance to certain herbicides.
GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.

🔑 Correct Answer: A. 1 only

🔎 Relevance: Genetic modification, gene expression, and seed research are common UPSC topics. The current Ladakh seed experiment in ISS is on how genes activate in space, showing this theme will likely reappear.

4. Prelims 2017 – GS Paper I

Q. What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the ‘National Agriculture Market’ scheme?

It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.
It provides the farmers access to a nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce.

🔑 Correct Answer: C. Both 1 and 2

🔎 Relevance: Access to quality seeds, space-grown crop research, and climate-resilient agriculture link directly with policy initiatives like e-NAM and future food markets.

💡 Mains Questions (UPSC-style, Probable):

GS Paper 3 (250 words)

Q. Discuss the role of biotechnology and space-based research in ensuring sustainable agriculture and food security. Illustrate with recent examples from India.

📌 Pointers for Answer:

Define space-based agriculture
Mention Ladakh seed mission to ISS
Role of gene activation studies under microgravity
India’s climate-resilient crops
Atmanirbhar space-tech & agricultural biotech (Protoplanet)
Policy implications (startup ecosystem, SDGs)

🧪 Science Behind It

Microgravity affects seed metabolism, gene expression, dormancy, water absorption
Can reveal new traits helpful for stress resistance
Helps design crops suitable for Mars missions, moon bases
Potential to enhance Earth-based agriculture through resilient variants

🌐 Cultural & Global Significance

Seeds from countries like Maldives, Nigeria, Argentina, Pakistan represent global agricultural diversity
Part of “World Seeds” project by Jaguar Space
Preserves indigenous knowledge & biodiversity for future civilizations
Builds a cultural bridge between Earth and space

📈 Potential UPSC MCQs (Practice):

Q1. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the recent World Seeds experiment?

A. It was launched by ISRO from Sriharikota.
B. It includes only seeds grown in tropical regions.
C. Indian contribution includes seabuckthorn and Himalayan tartary.
D. It studies photosynthesis under high pressure.

✅ Correct Answer: C

Q2. Seabuckthorn, often grown in Ladakh, is known for:

A. Being a nitrogen-fixing tree in saline soils
B. Its ability to survive in high altitude deserts and high nutritional content
C. Its origin in the Sundarbans
D. Exclusive use in cosmetics only

✅ Correct Answer: B

🧭 Final Words

As India strengthens its footprint in the space economy and agri-innovation, participation in experiments like the World Seeds payload becomes vital. For UPSC aspirants, such topics reflect a convergence of science, technology, environment, agriculture, and diplomacy—all core to the examination’s interdisciplinary nature.

Stay updated, stay analytical—this is not just a story about seeds, but about India sowing its future in space.

🔖 Prepared by: Suryavanshi IAS
“Shaping Minds for Nation Building”
📍 Lucknow | 📞 6306446114 | 🌐 suryavanshiias.blogspot.com

Suryavanshi IAS

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