PIB · Government of India ·

National Biodiversity Authority Disburses Rs 2.02 Crore to Advance Grassroots Conservation and Community Welfare through ABS Fund

Distilled Policy Brief

  • The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) distributed Rs 2.02 crore under the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) fund across 27 States and 3 UTs, sourced from seed sector companies using agricultural biological resources.
  • Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha emerged among the top recipients, utilizing funds to strengthen Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCAs), update People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), and promote community-led conservation.
  • India's ABS framework implements the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, aligning with Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets 13 and 19, and supporting SDGs 2, 8, 12, 15, and 17.

🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points

The Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) funds collected from seed sector companies are distributed to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and UT Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) based on the cultivation area of the respective biological resources as published in agricultural statistics, operating under the statutory framework of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages

Analyze how Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanisms under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 serve as an effective instrument for grassroots biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and the implementation of international commitments like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill

Environment & Ecology

Consider the following statements regarding the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) fund distributed by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): 1. The ABS fund is primarily sourced from contributions made by seed sector companies utilizing agricultural biological resources. 2. The distribution of the fund among States and Union Territories is based on the cultivation area of the respective biological resources as per agricultural statistics. 3. Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha emerged among the top recipients in the recent distribution cycle. 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 the statements are correct. The NBA distributed funds sourced from seed sector companies utilizing agricultural resources. The distribution methodology utilizes the cultivation area of relevant biological resources published in agricultural statistics, and Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha were among the top recipients in this funding cycle.

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

Biological Diversity Act, 2002: The primary national legislation providing a three-tier institutional structure (NBA at national level, SBBs at state level, and BMCs at local level) for regulating access to biological resources and traditional knowledge.
People's Biodiversity Registers (PBR): Comprehensive registers documenting local biological resources, traditional knowledge, and medicinal plants, maintained by Biodiversity Management Committees.