National Biodiversity Authority to Celebrate 23rd Foundation Day; Over 278 Crore Rupees Released via ABS

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) will celebrate its 23rd Foundation Day on October 1, 2026. On this occasion, the authority will highlight the concrete results and progress achieved through 'Access and Benefit Sharing' (ABS) for biodiversity conservation and local communities.

Since 2008, the NBA has released more than 278 crore rupees through the ABS mechanism. Out of this, over 200 crore rupees have been distributed to communities, farmers, institutions, and for the conservation of biodiversity across the country. This funding has benefited more than 10,500 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), 28 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), 7 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs), 6 forest departments, and 58 research institutions and universities.

According to the data, between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, the NBA received 12.93 crore rupees as ABS, while it released 132.01 crore rupees to states, union territories, institutions, farmers, and local communities.

Contributions under the ABS mechanism have been received from various sectors, including seeds, AYUSH, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics, and food and beverages. Companies such as Nunhems India, East-West Seeds India, Bayer BioScience, Himalaya Wellness Company, Dabur India, and L'Oréal India have contributed to these efforts.

Recent distributions include 6.67 crore rupees for 25,431 varieties of cotton, 15.52 crore rupees for mustard conservation, and 3.51 crore rupees for 139 varieties and 28 hybrid varieties of okra. Additionally, approximately 100 crore rupees have been released for the conservation of Red Sanders through the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board.

To simplify the process, the NBA has implemented an ABS e-filing system. To date, the authority has received 11,273 applications, of which 6,074 agreements have been signed or approved, and 2,098 certificates have been issued.

This structure is supported by the Biological Diversity Act 2002 (amended 2023), the Biodiversity Rules 2024, and the Biodiversity (Access and Benefit Sharing) Regulations 2025. This initiative complements the 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision and schemes such as PM-JANMAN, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission, and Van Dhan. India's model further advances the principles of the Nagoya Protocol and the commitments of the NBSAP 2024-2030.