NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY AUTHORITY AND ACCESS–BENEFIT SHARING

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY AUTHORITY AND ACCESS–BENEFIT SHARING

Context: In August 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed nearly ₹3.79 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism to 33 State Biodiversity Boards/Union Territory Biodiversity Councils and national institutions. The payments related to the use of agricultural genetic resources such as tomato, chilli, brinjal, cauliflower and mustard, besides Sahiwal cattle semen.

Background: The NBA is a statutory body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, with headquarters in Chennai. The Act was enacted to implement India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). India follows a three-tier system comprising the NBA at national level, State Biodiversity Boards at state level and Biodiversity Management Committees at local level.

Salient Role: The NBA regulates access to Indian biological resources, facilitates fair sharing of benefits, advises governments on biodiversity conservation and helps prevent unauthorised commercial exploitation. ABS ensures that gains from biological resources and associated knowledge return to communities, farmers and biodiversity custodians.

India’s Approach: India has linked its ABS framework with the Nagoya Protocol, biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods. Under the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, 85–90% of relevant ABS amounts are transferred to concerned State Biodiversity Boards for onward benefit-sharing.

Current Status: By June 2026, the NBA had mobilised over ₹266 crore through ABS and disbursed about ₹145 crore to beneficiaries; subsequent transfers have raised cumulative disbursements further. The key challenge is ensuring that benefits reach actual local custodians while maintaining transparent, science-based access to biological resources.

Analytical Questions

1. Why is Access and Benefit Sharing important for biodiversity conservation?

Answer: ABS connects conservation with fairness. If companies or researchers gain commercially from biological resources, local communities and traditional knowledge holders should also benefit. This creates an incentive to protect biodiversity. It also reduces the feeling that local resources are being taken away without recognition or compensation.

2. Why does India need a three-tier biodiversity governance system instead of a single national authority?

Answer: Biodiversity is highly local. The NBA can frame national rules, but State Boards understand regional conditions and Biodiversity Management Committees know local resources and traditional practices. This division improves both regulation and participation. It also makes conservation more practical because decisions are linked to the places where biodiversity actually exists.

3. What is the biggest challenge in ensuring that ABS money reaches the right beneficiaries?

Answer: The main challenge is identifying the real custodians of a biological resource or traditional knowledge. Benefits can get delayed if records are weak or local institutions lack capacity. Better People’s Biodiversity Registers, transparent accounting, clear beneficiary identification and public disclosure of payments can make the system more credible.

4. How does the NBA help prevent biopiracy?

Answer: The NBA regulates access to Indian biological resources and can require approvals before certain commercial or intellectual property uses. This helps prevent outsiders from claiming exclusive rights over resources or knowledge obtained from India without consent or benefit sharing. Strong documentation and international cooperation are equally important for enforcement.

5. If you were a District Magistrate, how would you strengthen biodiversity governance at the local level?

Answer: I would first strengthen Biodiversity Management Committees and update People’s Biodiversity Registers properly. Local communities should be involved in identifying resources and traditional knowledge. I would also ensure that ABS benefits are transparent, timely and linked with conservation activities. The aim should be both ecological protection and fair local benefit.