The Botanical Survey of India

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was established in 1890 with the primary aim of surveying the plant resources of the Indian empire. The BSI was instrumental in identifying, classifying, and documenting the diverse flora of the country. Over the years, the BSI has been a key contributor to the development of scientific research in plant biology in India.

E.K. Janaki Ammal was instrumental in the transformation of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). In her capacity as an Officer on Special Duty, she introduced a host of changes that rendered the BSI more organized and efficient. Her preliminary memorandum on the reorganisation of BSI underscored the need for a revitalized and restructured survey for better exploration and understanding of India's diverse flora. Later, as the director of the Central Botanical Laboratory, she continued to guide the institution to new heights of scientific achievement in the field of botany.

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Preface of Janaki Ammal’s plan for reorganising the Botanical Survey of India

Photograph of E.K. Janaki Ammal with a microscope