PIB · Government of India ·

16th National Meeting of Biodiversity Boards in Chandigarh Focuses on Strengthening State and Local Governance

Distilled Policy Brief

  • The 16th National Meeting of State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and UT Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) was held in Chandigarh to align state-level rules and institutional mechanisms with the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 and Biological Diversity Rules, 2024.
  • India has operationalized over 27.6 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level, aiming to transform People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) into dynamic planning tools for sustainable local development.
  • The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has distributed over ₹200 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds to local communities, farmers, and BMCs, while updating the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024-2030 to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points

The three-tier institutional structure established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards, and local-level Biodiversity Management Committees) and the statutory mechanism of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS).

⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages

Analyze the role of decentralized environmental governance through Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) in achieving India's commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill

Environment & Ecology

With reference to biodiversity governance and conservation initiatives in India, consider the following statements: 1. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024-2030 is aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). 2. Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are operationalized at the local level to transform People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) into dynamic planning tools. 3. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) distributes Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds to local communities, farmers, and BMCs. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • [A] 1 and 2 only
  • [B] 2 and 3 only
  • [C] 1 and 3 only
  • [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
✓ Correct Option: [D] 1, 2 and 3

All three statements are correct. India has updated its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024-2030 to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Over 27.6 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been operationalized at the local level to transform People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) into dynamic planning tools. Additionally, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has distributed over ₹200 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds to local communities, farmers, and BMCs.

Tark High-Yield Question Bank ⚡ Practice Full Test in Testing Arena ↗

🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)

UPSC Prelims 2021

Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.

Forensic Anchor: Cabinet Allocation of Business Rules & NCAP Framework
Examiner Trap Takeaway: UPSC swapped Central Pollution Control Board role with State Pollution Control Boards for state-level monitoring.

📚 Static Syllabus & Constitutional Linkages

Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) & Nagoya Protocol: The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and its domestic implementation through the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.