As our scientific surmises on evolution, ecology, biodiversity and molecular biology are less robust than we assume, today we are losing species faster than they are evolving or discovered. The implications are vast and serious for all human enterprises ranging from forestry to food production to medicine. High quality taxonomic research is vital for poverty reduction through sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries, combating insect pests and human diseases and for sustainable national and international trade in biological products without endangering indigenous plant and animal species. Though India is extremely biodiverse, with about a million species of living organisms, fewer than 100,000 of these have been formally described. Guided by the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, India agreed to quantify and protect the existing biodiversity.