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NBA Gets Rs 9.68 Crore Under Access and Benefit Sharing

The National Biodiversity Authority received Rs 9.68 crore from users of India biological resources between April and September 2026, led by the agri-seed sector.

By Published · 2 min read
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Why in News

On 8 October 2026 the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said the National Biodiversity Authority had received Rs 9.68 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework during April to September 2026.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) collected Rs 9.68 crore from users of India's biological resources in the half year running from 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026. The money came in under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, as amended in 2023, and the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Regulations. Of the total, Rs 9.56 crore was paid for access to biological resources by companies working in different sectors.

Which sectors paid most

Agriculture and the seed trade accounted for the largest slice at Rs 7.16 crore, followed by food and beverages at Rs 1.59 crore and animal husbandry at Rs 62.01 lakh. AYUSH accounted for Rs 0.21 crore, Red Sanders wood for Rs 0.06 crore and cosmetics for Rs 0.04 crore. Payments classed under applications relating to intellectual property rights came to Rs 11.24 lakh.

The biggest contributors

M/s East West Seeds India Ltd paid the most over the period, roughly Rs 2.01 crore across several instalments, while the single largest payment was Rs 1.17 crore from M/s Synergia Life Science Ltd. Other sizeable amounts came from M/s Tata Chemicals Pvt Ltd at Rs 52.06 lakh, M/s Indena India Pvt Ltd at Rs 45.89 lakh, M/s Grow Indigo Ltd at Rs 45.79 lakh, M/s Novozymes South Asia at Rs 44.11 lakh and M/s Nongwoo Seed India at Rs 40.53 lakh. M/s Nunhems India Ltd made upfront payments of about Rs 1.64 crore. Besides Indian firms, entities from Sri Lanka, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea and Bhutan contributed.

What was used, and where the money goes

The payments were made for a wide spread of resources: crops such as chickpea, red lentil, green moong, horse gram, flaxseed, guar gum, tapioca, buckwheat, cauliflower, okra, brinjal and ridge gourd; medicinal plants including Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Kalmegh, Licorice, Arjuna, Bacopa and Moringa; soil micro-organisms such as Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Rhizobium and Trichoderma; and livestock genetic material including Mithun, Jersey cattle and frozen semen of Murrah buffalo. Since 2008 the Authority has realised about Rs 278 crore through this route and released more than Rs 200 crore for biodiversity conservation and for benefit claimers. The funds flow through State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, and pay for People's Biodiversity Registers, stronger Biodiversity Management Committees, research and documentation, and direct benefits to local communities.

Important Facts

BodyNational Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
Amount receivedRs 9.68 crore
Period1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026
Towards access to resourcesRs 9.56 crore of the total
LawBiological Diversity Act, 2002, as amended in 2023, and the ABS Regulations
Top sectorAgri-seed, Rs 7.16 crore
Second and third sectorsFood and beverages Rs 1.59 crore; animal husbandry Rs 62.01 lakh
Largest contributorM/s East West Seeds India Ltd, about Rs 2.01 crore
Single largest paymentRs 1.17 crore by M/s Synergia Life Science Ltd
Since 2008About Rs 278 crore realised, more than Rs 200 crore disbursed
MinistryMinistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Exam Point of View

Remember the amount (Rs 9.68 crore), the period (April to September 2026), the law (Biological Diversity Act, 2002, amended in 2023), the top sector (agri-seed, Rs 7.16 crore), the largest contributor (East West Seeds India) and the single largest payment (Rs 1.17 crore by Synergia Life Science), along with the cumulative figures since 2008: about Rs 278 crore realised and over Rs 200 crore disbursed.

Practice Questions

Q1.EnvironmentEasy

How much did the National Biodiversity Authority receive under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework during April to September 2026?

  1. A.Rs 5.68 crore
  2. B.Rs 9.68 crore
  3. C.Rs 19.68 crore
  4. D.Rs 96.80 crore
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Rs 9.68 crore

Explanation

The correct answer is Rs 9.68 crore. The National Biodiversity Authority received that amount from users of India biological resources in the half year from 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026, under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, as amended in 2023, read with the Access and Benefit Sharing Regulations. Of this total, Rs 9.56 crore was paid specifically for access to biological resources by firms across sectors, with the small remainder coming from applications relating to intellectual property rights and other heads. Options A, C and D are deliberately close to the real figure, since questions on this release are most likely to turn on the exact amount rather than on a round number. A good way to fix it in memory is to pair the headline figure of Rs 9.68 crore with the access component of Rs 9.56 crore and with the leading sector, agri-seed, at Rs 7.16 crore.

Q2.EnvironmentMedium

Which sector contributed the largest share of these access and benefit sharing receipts?

  1. A.Food and beverages
  2. B.Animal husbandry
  3. C.Agriculture and seeds
  4. D.Cosmetics
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Agriculture and seeds

Explanation

The correct answer is agriculture and seeds. The agri-seed sector accounted for the largest share of the receipts at Rs 7.16 crore, well ahead of every other category. Option A, food and beverages, came second with Rs 1.59 crore. Option B, animal husbandry, was third at Rs 62.01 lakh. Option D, cosmetics, was among the smallest heads, at Rs 0.04 crore, alongside Red Sanders wood at Rs 0.06 crore and AYUSH at Rs 0.21 crore. That ordering is the most likely thing to be asked, because it shows which industries actually draw on the country biological wealth in commercial quantities. It also fits the list of resources behind the payments, which is dominated by crops such as chickpea, red lentil, green moong, horse gram, guar gum, okra and brinjal, alongside medicinal plants and soil micro-organisms.

Q3.EnvironmentMedium

Under which law are access and benefit sharing payments collected from users of biological resources?

  1. A.The Environment Protection Act, 1986
  2. B.The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972
  3. C.The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, as amended in 2023
  4. D.The Forest Conservation Act, 1980
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, as amended in 2023

Explanation

The correct answer is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, as amended in 2023. The receipts of the National Biodiversity Authority come in under that Act read with the Access and Benefit Sharing Regulations, which require users of Indian biological resources to share benefits with the country and with the communities that conserve those resources. Options A, B and D name important environmental laws, but none of them governs benefit sharing from the commercial use of biological resources: the first deals broadly with environmental protection, the second with the protection of wild species and protected areas, and the third with the diversion of forest land. The money collected under the correct Act is routed through State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, and funds People Biodiversity Registers, Biodiversity Management Committees, research and direct benefits to local communities and other benefit claimers.

Q4.EnvironmentHard

Which company made the single largest access and benefit sharing payment during the period?

  1. A.M/s East West Seeds India Ltd
  2. B.M/s Synergia Life Science Ltd
  3. C.M/s Tata Chemicals Pvt Ltd
  4. D.M/s Nunhems India Ltd
Show answer
Correct answer: B. M/s Synergia Life Science Ltd

Explanation

The correct answer is M/s Synergia Life Science Ltd, whose payment of Rs 1.17 crore was the single largest one received in the period. The distinction worth holding on to is between the largest overall contributor and the largest single payment. Option A, M/s East West Seeds India Ltd, was the biggest contributor in total, paying roughly Rs 2.01 crore, but it did so across several instalments rather than in one payment. Option C, M/s Tata Chemicals Pvt Ltd, paid Rs 52.06 lakh, placing it among the significant contributors along with M/s Indena India at Rs 45.89 lakh, M/s Grow Indigo at Rs 45.79 lakh, M/s Novozymes South Asia at Rs 44.11 lakh and M/s Nongwoo Seed India at Rs 40.53 lakh. Option D, M/s Nunhems India Ltd, made upfront payments of about Rs 1.64 crore. Contributors also included entities from Sri Lanka, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea and Bhutan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did the National Biodiversity Authority receive under ABS this half year?

It received Rs 9.68 crore between 1 April 2026 and 30 September 2026, of which Rs 9.56 crore was towards access to biological resources across sectors.

Which sector paid the most?

The agri-seed sector, with Rs 7.16 crore. Food and beverages followed with Rs 1.59 crore and animal husbandry with Rs 62.01 lakh, while AYUSH accounted for Rs 0.21 crore.

Under which law are these payments collected?

Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, as amended in 2023, together with the Access and Benefit Sharing Regulations. The money reaches the ground through State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils.

How much has been collected and spent since 2008?

The Authority has realised about Rs 278 crore through access and benefit sharing since 2008 and has disbursed more than Rs 200 crore for biodiversity conservation and for communities, farmers, institutions and other benefit claimers.

Sources

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