National Biodiversity Authority Distributes ₹1.04 Crore in ABS Funds Across India for Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives
Distilled Policy Brief
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has distributed approximately ₹1.04 crore as Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) amounts to 27 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and 2 UT Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) derived from agricultural genetic resources.
- The ABS framework operates under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (amended in 2023), Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, and Access and Benefit-Sharing Regulations, 2025, supporting India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol.
- Allocation of funds utilized a novel area-based methodology proportional to estimated agricultural areas of crops like pearl millet, sorghum, maize, rice, and bottle gourd using data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
The Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism in India is governed by the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, and ABS Regulations, 2025, with implementation overseen by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Analyze how Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanisms under the Biological Diversity Act balance commercial research in agriculture with local biodiversity conservation and equitable resource sharing in federal structures.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
Consider the following statements regarding the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism in India: 1. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) distributed ABS amounts derived from agricultural genetic resources to State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils using a novel area-based methodology. 2. This methodology utilized official agricultural data published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for crops such as pearl millet, sorghum, maize, rice, and bottle gourd. 3. India's ABS framework supports the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol. 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
All three statements are correct. The NBA distributed ABS amounts derived from agricultural genetic resources to 27 SBBs and 2 UTBCs. Due to difficulties in identifying individual contributors when resources were acquired through markets or intermediaries, a novel area-based methodology proportional to estimated agricultural areas using Ministry of Agriculture data was adopted. This framework operates under the Biological Diversity Act and supports India's commitments under the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (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.