The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is marking its 23rd Foundation Day on 1 October 2026 with the announcement of substantial progress in implementing India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework. Since its establishment in 2008, the NBA has released over Rs 278 crore through ABS mechanisms and disbursed more than Rs 200 crore specifically for biodiversity conservation and supporting farmers, local communities, research institutions and other beneficiaries nationwide.
Access and Benefit Sharing is a legal framework that ensures companies and institutions using India’s biological resources, such as seeds, plants, microorganisms and genetic materials, share the financial benefits with communities and conservation efforts. This approach links commercial use of nature with environmental protection and local livelihoods.
Key facts
- Total ABS releases since 2008: Rs 278 crore
- Amounts disbursed for biodiversity conservation and community benefits: Rs 200 crore
- ABS amounts received between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026: Rs 12.93 crore
- Amounts released in the same period: Rs 132.01 crore
- NBA applications received to date: 11,273
- Agreements signed or approvals granted: 6,074
- Certificates issued: 2,098
- Biodiversity Management Committees supported: over 10,500
- State Biodiversity Boards supported: 28
- Union Territory Biodiversity Councils supported: 7
- Research institutions and universities supported: 58
- Forest departments supported: 6
- Recent allocation for cotton varieties: Rs 6.67 crore for 25,431 varieties
- Recent allocation for Red Sanders conservation: Rs 100 crore
How Access and Benefit Sharing works
Under India’s Biological Diversity Act 2002, companies and research institutions that use India’s biological resources commercially must obtain approval from the NBA or State Biodiversity Boards. This includes use of seeds, medicinal plants, microorganisms, livestock breeds and other genetic materials. Upon approval, these entities are required to share financial benefits with communities and conservation efforts.
A three-tier system administers ABS in India: the NBA at the national level, State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils at the state level, and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level. This structure ensures that benefit-sharing operates at all levels of governance and reaches local communities closest to biological resources.
Which sectors contribute and what benefits they receive
Contributions to the ABS mechanism come from diverse industries including seeds, agriculture, pharmaceutical companies, AYUSH (traditional medicine), nutraceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics, chemicals, biofuels and food and beverages. Major companies such as Bayer Bioscience, Dabur India, Himalaya Wellness Company, Organic India, L’Oréal India and Novozymes have made payments under this framework.
The funds collected are then directed towards conservation of specific crops and plants. Recent major allocations include Rs 15.52 crore for mustard conservation, Rs 6.67 crore supporting 25,431 varieties of cotton, and Rs 3.51 crore for okra breeding and conservation. Significant support has also been extended for traditional medicinal plants including ashwagandha, tulsi, neem, elachi and pepper.
How communities benefit
More than Rs 200 crore disbursed by the NBA has supported over 10,500 Biodiversity Management Committees, which are local institutions responsible for documenting biological resources in their areas. State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils have also received funds for conservation programmes.
Beyond direct monetary support, the ABS framework funds community gene banks, traditional knowledge documentation through People’s Biodiversity Registers, habitat restoration, capacity building, and sustainable livelihood activities. In areas where individual benefit claimants cannot be identified, funds support socio-economic development programmes in regions where biological resources originate. This particularly benefits biodiversity-rich rural and tribal areas.
At the state level, over Rs 51 crore has been generated through ABS approvals granted by State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils to Indian commercial entities for using biological resources.
Digital reforms and ease of compliance
The NBA has introduced an e-filing system that has simplified application processing, improved transparency and made tracking of approvals easier for companies and institutions. This digital platform has reduced bureaucratic delays and made the process more predictable through the use of model agreements and standardised procedures. These reforms balance ease of doing business with ensuring that biodiversity conservation and fair benefit-sharing remain the central objectives.
Connection to India’s international commitments
India’s ABS framework implements the principles of the Nagoya Protocol, an international agreement on fair benefit-sharing from use of genetic resources. It also aligns with India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commitments. The framework advances India’s goals on conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and supporting rural livelihoods under government programmes such as PM-JANMAN and Van Dhan, which promote tribal welfare and nature-based economic activities.
What this means for you
If you are a farmer, researcher or member of a local community in biodiversity-rich areas, ABS funding may support conservation of traditional crop varieties you grow, medicinal plants you use, or livelihood opportunities in your region. If you work in a company using biological resources, you must comply with ABS regulations and obtain necessary approvals, though recent digital reforms have made this process faster.
Students and researchers using Indian biological materials for academic or commercial purposes must understand ABS obligations. Communities custodians of traditional knowledge about biological resources can register this knowledge through Biodiversity Management Committees and potentially benefit from commercial use of such resources.