Basic Course in Botany, 2026–2027
The course includes inaugural and wrap-up sessions, field visits around Mumbai and two field camps to floral habitats across India.
Participants of the Basic Course in Botany, batch 2025-2026, during the field visit at Bhandup Pumping Station.
Highlights of the course
BNHS CEC announces admissions for Basic Course in Botany for 2026.
• Field study in Botany focused on higher plants (Angiosperms)
• Duration: Six months (July 2026 to December 2026)
• Covers morphology, family characteristics and key identifications
• Field camps, field visits/webinars, indoor sessions and project work
• Certificate from BNHS upon successful completion
Who can enroll?
• Anyone with an interest in plants
• Basic qualification is Class 10 (any board)
What are the course deliverables?
The course includes field work and online assignments. The course deliverables are as follows:
Chapters
Every month, one chapter written by BNHS experts is sent online to participants. Chapters cover topics like biodiversity, ecology, plants, insects, marine life, amphibians, birds, mammals, conservation issues and sustainable development, environmental laws and environmental impact assessment.
Online research
To learn in greater detail about India's biodiversity and its conservation issues, participants are expected to refer to scientific papers, articles, news, discussions, films based on biodiversity, etc. available online and submit abstracts of the same in the monthly assignment submission document.
Field visits and reports
A total of six half-day field visits will be conducted to various wildlife habitats near Mumbai during the course duration, out of which four are compulsory. A brief report on each field visit must be submitted as a part of the monthly assignment. Participants staying away from Mumbai (in other parts of Maharashtra or in other states) can instead visit a similar habitat near their location, on their own and submit the report in a monthly assignment.
Field camps, indoor sessions and reports
In the course duration, one inaugural session, one wrap up session and two field camps will be organized. Field camps are conducted in various habitats across India. Participants are required to attend two field camps and the inaugural session. A camp/session report must be submitted after each camp in the monthly assignment.
Project work
This is an integral part of the course and involves submitting a project report every month. Every project will focus on a theme and the report will be based on the relevant observations/study in one's selected locality. The final project report and the presentation at the end of the year will be a compilation of the monthly reports and a practical action plan for one's locality.
How to register
- 1
Fill in the registration form and select the course you wish to join. If you wish to join two courses, submit the form again for the second course.
- 2
Tell us whether you are a BNHS member — members pay the lower course fee.
- 3
Pay the course fee online by UPI, card or net banking. An NEFT bank transfer is also available.
- 4
Your payment receipt and registration confirmation are emailed to you immediately.
- 5
The CEC team confirms your place within five working days and sends the joining details.
It is compulsory to fill the online registration form. The course fee is payable at the end of the form; field camp fees are charged separately.
Free admission for underprivileged students
BNHS CEC Mumbai offers a few free seats in its online-cum-field (hybrid) courses for deserving students who are genuinely interested in learning these subjects from experts. Study material, webinars and the course completion certificate are included; fees for field visits and camps are not.
The certificate is awarded on the basis of active participation. BNHS reserves all rights to shortlist, select or reject applicants.
Apply for free admissionCriteria
- Below 30 years of age.
- Financially weak background / under-privileged / Non-creamy layer.
- Interested in the topic/subject of the course. Admission will be given for any one course.
Documents to submit
- Proof of age.
- Proof of being from a financially weak background / underprivileged.
- BPL or non-creamy layer certificates.
- Recommendation letter from a person of repute (school/college teacher, principal etc.).
General instructions
- The cancellation charges are 10% of course fee once the admission is done.
- Course fee is non refundable after 3 months of the commencement of the course.
- The course material should not be used for any commercial purpose, since it is a copyright of BNHS.
- Camps/visits conducted by BNHS are educational in nature and not tourist outings.
- BNHS has all the rights to postpone/reschedule any field visit/webinar or the camp when required.
- It is assumed that participants have read and agreed to all the rules and regulations of BNHS, while registering for any camps/visits, as well as the inaugural/wrap-up camps.
- Though utmost care is taken to avoid any mishap, BNHS and the course coordinators/management/experts will not be held responsible in case of any accident leading to injury or death and loss of property at and during any camp/visit. BNHS coordinators/management/camp leaders are authorized to take necessary action in case of emergency hospitalization/treatment and the participant shall bear the full cost thereof.
- BNHS coordinators/management/camp leaders are authorized to expel any participant from any camp/visit in case of any kind of misbehavior or breach of any rules/regulations.
- BNHS is authorized to change the course structure if required during the course period.
- Participants need to attend the required number of camps/visits, need to complete the required project work/assignments on time and need to participate in the required number of online activities to receive good grades.