National Biodiversity Authority disburses ABS funds from seed sector for grassroots conservation

Environment and Biodiversity · 11 October 2026 · Based on PIB (original report)

Must read — 2 past UPSC questions on this theme (Prelims GS-1 2023, Mains GS-3 2018); also a Prelims-style fact (scheme, body, law, agreement or report).

2-minute summary

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ₹2.02 crore collected as Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds from the commercial seed sector to grassroots conservation initiatives and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, commercial users of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge must share a portion of their revenue with local custodian communities. This funding directly strengthens community-led conservation, supports local livelihoods, and facilitates the documentation of bio-resources via People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs). India's ABS framework fulfills its international obligations under the Nagoya Protocol of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The disbursement highlights how financial mechanisms under environmental legislation can bridge commercial bio-resource utilization with local ecological governance.

Why it's in the news

In October 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority disbursed ₹2.02 crore of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds collected from the seed sector to local conservation bodies to enhance community well-being.

Facts to remember

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory autonomous body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, headquartered in Chennai.
• In October 2026, the NBA disbursed ₹2.02 crore of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds collected from the seed sector.
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are statutory local-level bodies constituted under Section 41 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework implements the obligations of the 2010 Nagoya Protocol under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) are baseline technical documents maintained by BMCs to record local bio-resources and traditional knowledge.

Background and context

India enacted the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 to fulfill its commitments under the 1992 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The legal framework establishes a three-tier institutional structure: the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the national level, State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the state level, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local self-government level. Section 41 of the Act mandates BMCs to document local bio-resources and traditional knowledge through People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs). A core pillar of this framework is the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism, formalized globally under the 2010 Nagoya Protocol. ABS mandates commercial entities utilizing biological resources to share a portion of their benefits with custodian communities. The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 sought to streamline ABS compliance and encourage domestic seed and medicinal plant industries while retaining conservation mandates.

Constitutional provisions

• Article 48A — Directive Principle of State Policy directing the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.
• Article 51A(g) — Fundamental Duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.

Government schemes

• Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Fund Mechanism — Statutory mechanism under NBA to channel funds from commercial users of bio-resources directly to local conservation bodies and indigenous knowledge holders.

International organisations

• Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing — A 2010 supplementary agreement to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) providing a transparent legal framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits.

Previous UPSC questions on this theme

• Prelims GS-1 2023 — Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol. 2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
• Mains GS-3 2018 — How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna?

Mains practice: Examine the legal and institutional mechanism of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. How does it empower grassroots biodiversity conservation in India?

The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework under India's Biological Diversity Act, 2002 translates global conservation commitments under the 2010 Nagoya Protocol into national law. In October 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ₹2.02 crore of ABS funds collected from the seed sector to local conservation bodies, demonstrating the financial realization of this ecological justice mechanism.

Legal & Institutional Architecture:

• Statutory Structure: The Biological Diversity Act creates a three-tier framework comprising the NBA in Chennai, State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), and local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) under Section 41.

• Revenue Channeling: ABS regulations require commercial entities exploiting biological resources to deposit benefit-sharing fees into the National Biodiversity Fund, which are subsequently routed to local claimers and BMCs.

Empowerment of Grassroots Conservation:

• Financial Self-Reliance: Direct disbursement of funds enables BMCs to undertake habitat restoration and species protection without relying solely on state budgetary support.

• Documenting Traditional Knowledge: Funds support the creation and digital updating of People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), preserving indigenous bio-knowledge against biopiracy.

• Community Incentivisation: Aligning economic returns with local stewardship reinforces the constitutional mandate under Article 48A and Article 51A(g) for participatory environmental protection.

Challenges and Way Forward:

• Procedural Delays: Complex valuation metrics for bio-resources often delay fee collection and distribution.

• Sectoral Exemptions: The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 exempted AYUSH practitioners and domestic seed companies from certain ABS levies, raising concerns regarding BMC revenue streams.

• Capacity Building: Local BMCs require technical training to negotiate fair terms with commercial entities.

Way Forward:

• Standardise ABS valuation guidelines across state borders to eliminate regulatory arbitrage.

• Digitise PBRs on a national repository to enable transparent tracking of commercial applications.

• Strengthen technical support to BMCs through Panchayati Raj Institutions to ensure equitable fund management.

Conclusion:

By converting bio-resource commercialisation into direct grassroots conservation funding, the ABS mechanism advances SDG 15 (Life on Land) and operationalises the principle of intergenerational ecological equity.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. With reference to biodiversity governance in India, consider the following statements: 1. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is an executive body established by a Cabinet resolution under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 2. Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are statutory bodies constituted exclusively at the Union Territory level by the Central Government. 3. Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds collected by the NBA are deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India and cannot be disbursed to local communities. How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Answer: D. Statement 1 is incorrect: The NBA is a statutory autonomous body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Statement 2 is incorrect: BMCs are set up at the local body level (Panchayats and Municipalities) across States and UTs under Section 41 of the Act. Statement 3 is incorrect: ABS funds are deposited into the National Biodiversity Fund and are explicitly meant to be disbursed to local benefit claimers and BMCs for biodiversity conservation.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the legal framework for biodiversity conservation in India: 1. Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are responsible for preparing People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) in consultation with local communities. 2. The Nagoya Protocol under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity specifically deals with Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing. 3. India enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to fulfill its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D. All three statements are correct. Statement 1 describes the statutory mandate of BMCs under Section 41 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Statement 2 correctly identifies the objective of the 2010 Nagoya Protocol. Statement 3 reflects India's enactment of domestic legislation to implement the 1992 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Q3. Which statutory body in India is empowered under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to regulate requests for commercial utilization of biological resources and advise the Union Government on benefit sharing?

1. Animal Welfare Board of India
2. Forest Advisory Committee
3. National Biodiversity Authority
4. National Green Tribunal

Answer: C. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is the statutory body created under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to grant approvals, advise the Central Government, and regulate access to biological resources and fair benefit sharing.

Revision flashcards

• Under which statute was the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) established, and where is its headquarters? Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• What is the primary function of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level? Promoting conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of biological resources and traditional knowledge via People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).
• In October 2026, how much ABS funds did the National Biodiversity Authority disburse to grassroots conservation from the seed sector? ₹2.02 crore disbursed to support local community well-being and conservation.
• Which specific industry sector contributed the ₹2.02 crore ABS funds disbursed by the NBA in October 2026? The commercial seed sector.
• Why is the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism critical for traditional knowledge holders in India? It monetises the commercial use of bio-resources and redistributes financial benefits to custodian communities, incentivising grassroots conservation.