The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) collected ₹21.26 crore through the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism during the 2025–26 fiscal year. These funds, primarily sourced from the seed and AYUSH sectors, are earmarked for grassroots conservation, sustainable resource management, and supporting the livelihoods of traditional knowledge holders. This process ensures the equitable distribution of benefits derived from the utilization of India’s biological resources, aligning with international mandates.
Key Frameworks and Institutions
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Enacted to implement the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It mandates a three-tier structure:
- NBA (National): Regulates access for foreign entities and companies.
- State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs): Regulates domestic commercial access.
- Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs): Local bodies that document resources and advise on collection.
- Nagoya Protocol: A 2010 supplementary agreement to the CBD, effective in India since 2014, providing the legal basis for the ABS mechanism.
ABS Modalities
- Monetary Benefits: Royalties, upfront/milestone payments, and profit-sharing from commercialized products.
- Non-Monetary Benefits: Technology transfer, research collaboration, and capacity building.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- PBRs: BMCs maintain People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) to document local traditional knowledge and resources.
- Amendment: The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 simplified compliance for domestic practitioners and companies.
- PIC: Prior Informed Consent (PIC) from local communities is a mandatory legal prerequisite before accessing biological resources.