NBA Disburses Rs 3.79 crore ABS Funds to 33 States/UTs and Institutes – Boost to Biodiversity Conservation
The National Biodiversity Authority has released Rs 3.79 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing scheme to 33 State and UT biodiversity boards, ICAR‑NBPGR and a cattle‑semen centre, covering major vegetable, oilseed and animal genetic resources. The disbursement operationalises the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Nagoya Protocol, reinforcing India's commitment to global biodiversity targets and sustainable development.
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released nearly Rs 3.79 crore under the ABS scheme to 33 SBBs and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, as well as to ICAR‑NBPGR and a cattle‑semen research centre. The money comes from companies that accessed Indian vegetable, oilseed and animal genetic resources for research and commercial use. Key Developments Funds cover a wide range of agrobiodiversity: tomato, chilli, brinjal, cauliflower, watermelon, bitter‑gourd, bottle‑gourd, okra, mustard and frozen Sahiwal cattle semen. Companies involved: Bayer Science and Innovation Pvt. Ltd. , HM Clause India Pvt. Ltd. and Advanta Enterprises Ltd. . An additional amount came from the Sri Lankan Department of Animal Production and Health . Disbursement is proportional to the cultivated area of each crop, using data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The largest state beneficiaries are Madhya Pradesh (Rs 46.93 lakh), West Bengal (Rs 44.76 lakh) and Odisha (Rs 44.08 lakh). Important Facts ABS amounts per crop range from Rs 0.57 lakh (mustard) to Rs 86.56 lakh (tomato). Overall cumulative ABS disbursements by NBA have crossed Rs 166 crore . Funds must be used for updating People's Biodiversity Registers , in‑situ and ex‑situ conservation, strengthening Biodiversity Heritage Sites, capacity building of Biodiversity Management Committees, and livelihood programmes. UPSC Relevance The release illustrates the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Nagoy
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Key Insight
NBA releases Rs 3.79 crore ABS funds – a real‑world test of India’s biodiversity law
Key Facts
- Rs 3.79 crore was disbursed by NBA to 33 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) / UT councils and two research institutes.
- Funds come from Bayer Science & Innovation, HM Clause India and Advanta Enterprises for using Indian vegetable, oilseed and animal genetic resources.
- Disbursement is based on cultivated area; top states are Madhya Pradesh (Rs 46.93 lakh), West Bengal (Rs 44.76 lakh) and Odisha (Rs 44.08 lakh).
- ABS amounts per crop range from Rs 0.57 lakh (mustard) to Rs 86.56 lakh (tomato).
- Cumulative ABS payouts by NBA have crossed Rs 166 crore since the scheme began.
- The scheme operates under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Nagoya Protocol of the CBD.
- Funds must be used for People’s Biodiversity Registers, in‑situ/ex‑situ conservation, Biodiversity Heritage Sites, capacity building and livelihood programmes.
Background
India’s Biological Diversity Act creates the National Biodiversity Authority to manage benefit‑sharing from genetic resources. The ABS mechanism follows the Nagoya Protocol, ensuring that companies profit from Indian crops and livestock while the source communities receive money for conservation. This links biodiversity protection with rural development and international commitments such as the Kunming‑Montreal Framework.
UPSC Syllabus
- Essay — Environment and Sustainability
- Essay — Economy, Development and Inequality
- GS3 — Biodiversity and its Conservation
- Essay — Science, Technology and Society
- GS3 — Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
- GS3 — Developments in science and technology and their applications
- Essay — Education, Knowledge and Culture
- GS2 — Functions and responsibilities of Union and States
- GS1 — Poverty and Developmental Issues
- GS2 — Issues relating to poverty and hunger
Mains Angle