fbpx
UPSC Current Affairs

Janaki Ammal

Janaki Ammal-Ekam IAS

Janaki Ammal

  • Janaki Ammal was the first Indian woman to be awarded a Ph.D. in the botanical sciences.
  • As India celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is important for us to remember the people who raised the fame of India through their immense works.
  • Today as we mark 75 years of free India, lets discuss Janaki Ammal who fought against sexism, casteism and racism and has made remarkable contributions in the field of science.
  • Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal was born in Thalasseri, Kerala.
  • Janaki Ammal is often referred to as the first Indian woman botanist.
  • She received the degree from the University of Michigan, in 1931, where she specialised in plant cytology.
  • In 1945, she co-authored Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants that scientists fall back on to this day.
  • She was an expert in Cytogenetics, branch of biology focused on the study of chromosomes and their inheritance, especially as applied to medical genetics.
  • Her most notable work involved studies on sugarcane and the eggplant(brinjal).
  • At that time, the sweetest sugarcane in the world was the Saccharum officinarum variety from Papua New Guinea and India imported it from Southeast Asia.
  • Janaki Ammal was able to create a high yielding strain of the sugarcane that would thrive in Indian conditions.
  • The Indian government invited her to reorganize the Botanical Survey of India, and she was appointed as the first director of the Central Botanical Laboratory at Allahabad.
  • The Department of Biotechnology has renamed the National Women Bio-scientist Award as Janaki Ammal- National Women Bio-scientist Award in honour of Dr. Janaki Ammal.
  • The award is to cognize the contributions of senior and young women scientists in the country who are working in the areas of Biology and Biotechnology.
  • Her life and achievements remain largely unknown to us except for a few articles.
  • Janaki Ammal passed away at the age of 87.
  • She chose to be a nomad both in the way she led her life, and in her science, in order to counter patriarchal shackles.
  • She was given a Padma Shri only when she was in her eighties, that is in 1977.

UPSC Prelims Model Question

Q. Who among the following co-authored Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants along with C.D. Darlington?

a) John Gribbin
b) Gala Vince
c) Janaki Ammal
d) C. V. Subramanian

To view the answer key and much more, Join our Telegram Channel

To get years of subjectwise-segregated newspaper articles, join our subjectwise Telegram Channels.

To watch video explanation and much more, Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Follow us on Instagram for UPSC updates.

Click here to read more UPSC Current Affairs


About us

Ekam IAS is the oldest online IAS institute in Kerala. We’ve years of experience in mentoring and teaching students all over the nation, helping them achieve their UPSC-dream through the right guidance, strategy, and precise content. Join Ekam IAS and turn your UPSC-dream into reality.

To learn customizable preparation strategies, book an appointment with our UPSC-expert. Book Now. 

Leave your thought here

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *