The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) will mark its 23rd Foundation Day tomorrow, 01.10.2026, with significant progress in translating Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) into tangible outcomes for biodiversity conservation and local communities. Since 2008, the NBA has released over Rs. 278 crore through ABS and disbursed more than Rs. 200 crore towards biodiversity conservation and the benefit of communities, farmers, institutions and other benefit claimants across the country. This progress reflects the strengthening of India’s ABS framework and its ability to connect the use of biological resources with conservation and equitable sharing of benefits. India has emerged as a pioneer in operationalising ABS, supported by a three-tier institutional architecture comprising the NBA at the national level, State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) at the State and Union Territory levels, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level, in accordance with the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

As the NBA marks its 23rd Foundation Day tomorrow, this progress reflects the evolution of ABS into an important instrument for translating the value of biological diversity into conservation action and community benefits. The impact is reflected in a wide network of beneficiaries. The more than Rs. 200 crore disbursed by the NBA has supported over 10,500 BMCs, 28 SBBs, 7 UTBCs, 6 Forest Departments and 58 research institutions and universities across the country for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, research, capacity building and community-oriented activities. Between 01.09.2025 and 31.08.2026, the NBA received Rs. 12.93 crore in ABS amounts and released Rs. 132.01 crore to States, Union Territories, institutions, farmers, local communities and other identified benefit claimants. The releases included accumulated ABS amounts from earlier collections, enabling support for a wider range of conservation and livelihood initiatives.

The ABS mechanism covers a diverse range of biological resources, including agricultural and horticultural crops, plant genetic resources, medicinal and aromatic plants, livestock genetic resources, Red Sanders and microorganisms. Contributions have been received from sectors including seeds, AYUSH, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics, chemicals, biofuels, and food and beverages. Companies such as Nunhems India, East West Seeds India, Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Bayer Bioscience, Himalaya Wellness Company, Dabur India, Organic India, Laurus Labs, Akay Natural Ingredients, Novozymes South Asia, Advanced Enzymes and L’Oréal India, among others, have contributed to the ABS mechanism in accordance with the applicable legal framework.

The benefits are increasingly reaching the ground, supporting the conservation and sustainable use of maize, rice, turmeric, amla, mustard, bitter gourd, cotton, okra and chilli, as well as medicinal and aromatic resources such as kalmegh, elachi, tulsi, guggal gum, neem, garcinia, ashwagandha, pepper and lavanga. Recent releases include Rs. 6.67 crore for 25,431 cotton varieties, Rs. 15.52 crore for mustard-related conservation and Rs. 3.51 crore for 139 okra varieties and 28 hybrids. Around Rs. 100 crore has also been released for the conservation and protection of Red Sanders through the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, demonstrating how ABS can translate the value of biological resources into tangible conservation outcomes. At the State and Union Territory levels, over Rs. 51 crore has been generated through ABS approvals granted by SBBs and UTBCs to Section 7 entities (Indian entities) for commercial utilisation of biological resources.

ABS funds are also supporting People’s Biodiversity Registers, habitat restoration, conservation of traditional varieties, medicinal plant conservation, community gene banks, capacity building and sustainable livelihood activities. Where individual benefit claimants cannot be identified, the framework provides for utilisation of funds for the socio-economic development of areas from which biological resources originate. Regulatory reforms and digitalisation have strengthened ease of doing business and ease of compliance, while safeguarding the objectives of biodiversity conservation and fair and equitable benefit sharing. The ABS e-filing system has simplified application processing and improved transparency and tracking. As of now, the NBA has received 11,273 applications, with 6,074 agreements signed/approvals granted and 2,098 certificates issued. Model agreements, standardised procedures and online services have further made the ABS process more predictable and user-friendly. ABS obligations are incorporated into agreements executed by the NBA, providing a clear basis for benefit-sharing payments under the applicable ABS Regulations.

By linking biodiversity conservation with sustainable livelihoods, ABS is contributing to local value addition, sustainable use of biological resources, community participation and livelihood opportunities, particularly in biodiversity-rich rural and tribal areas. It also contributes to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and complements initiatives such as PM-JANMAN, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission and Van Dhan, which promote tribal welfare and natural-resource-based livelihoods. India’s ABS framework gives practical effect to the principles of the Nagoya Protocol and advances the country’s commitments under the NBSAP 2024–2030 and the KMGBF, particularly Target 13 on fair and equitable benefit sharing. Through conservation, sustainable use and community benefits, ABS also supports KMGBF Targets 4, 5 and 9 and contributes to relevant SDGs, strengthening the link between biodiversity, livelihoods and sustainable development.

With the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, as amended in 2023, the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 and the Biological Diversity (Access and Benefit Sharing) Regulations, 2025, India continues to strengthen a transparent, predictable and effective ABS system, facilitating legitimate access and compliance while ensuring that benefits arising from the utilisation of biological resources contribute to conservation and community well-being. As the NBA marks its 23rd Foundation Day tomorrow, 01.10.2026, it will continue to work with SBBs, UTBCs, BMCs, line departments, research institutions, industry, local communities and other stakeholders to further strengthen ABS implementation. India’s experience demonstrates that ABS can serve as a practical bridge among biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, innovation and community well-being, ensuring that the value generated from India’s biological wealth contributes to its conservation and to the people who sustain it.

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VM/GS/SK

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