On 26 June 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority released a Standard Operating Procedure for notification of threatened species under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Numbers and scope
- Current notified species: 159 plant species and 173 animal species notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change across 17 States and 3 Union Territories.
- Geographic scope: Applies to species assessments and notifications by State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils.
Process steps
- Assessment sequence: Scientific assessment, stakeholder consultations, expert validation, official notification.
- Post-notification actions: Mandatory development of species recovery and conservation action plans, regular monitoring and periodic review.
Key stakeholders
- Community participation: Local communities and Biodiversity Management Committees form part of identification and consultation processes.
- Technical inputs: Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, academic institutions and subject experts provide scientific validation.
Legal and policy linkages
- Statutory basis: SOP operationalises Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 for State/UT notifications.
- Regulatory alignment: Linked to the Biological Diversity (Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulations, 2025.
- Policy frameworks: Aligns with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2030 (Target 4) and the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- National Biodiversity Authority: Statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to advise central and state governments on biodiversity matters.
- Section 38: Empowers State Governments to notify threatened species; SOP provides a uniform methodology for doing so.