NBA Disburses Rs 2.02 Crore of Seed Sector ABS Funds to States
The National Biodiversity Authority has disbursed Rs 2.02 crore of access and benefit-sharing funds from seed companies to 27 states and 3 union territories.
Why in News
On 10 October 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority announced the disbursement of Rs 2.02 crore in access and benefit-sharing contributions from seed-sector companies to 27 states and 3 union territories for biodiversity conservation and community welfare.
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 2.02 crore among 27 states and 3 union territories. The money is their share of Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) contributions paid by seed-sector companies for using biological resources. It is meant for conserving biodiversity, using biological resources sustainably and strengthening the livelihoods of local communities.
Where the money came from
The contributions arose from the use of farm biological resources covering several varieties and hybrids of rice, eggplant, cauliflower, cucumber, hot pepper, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, tomato and okra. Seven companies paid them: East West Seeds India, Syngenta India, Devgen Seeds and Crop Technology, Limagrain India, Bayer Science and Innovation, Nunhems India and Enza Zaden India.
How the shares were worked out
Where resources were bought through markets or traders and individual benefit claimers could not be traced, the NBA used distribution rules recommended by an expert committee and approved by the Authority. The beneficiary share was then split among the State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils on the basis of the area under cultivation of each resource, taken from the agricultural statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The ten largest shares together came to Rs 1.43 crore.
| Rank | State |
| First | Madhya Pradesh |
| Second | West Bengal |
| Third | Odisha |
| Fourth | Bihar |
| Fifth | Gujarat |
What the funds pay for
Disbursements to the boards and councils support the strengthening of Biodiversity Management Committees, the updating of People's Biodiversity Registers, the conservation of traditional crop varieties and medicinal plants, the restoration of habitats and the sustainable management of biological resources at the grassroots. The release noted that such work can run alongside government schemes for tribal welfare and sustainable livelihoods, among them PM-JANMAN, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana.
The legal and global frame
With this release the cumulative ABS disbursement by the NBA has reached Rs 202 crore. India's ABS framework works under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2024 to 2030. It supports Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources, and Target 19 on mobilising resources. The announcement came as India prepared for the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, COP 17, beginning on 19 October 2026 at Yerevan in Armenia.
Important Facts
| Body | National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) |
|---|---|
| Amount disbursed | Rs 2.02 crore |
| Recipients | 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils |
| Top ten states | Rs 1.43 crore of the total |
| Largest shares | Madhya Pradesh, followed by West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Gujarat |
| Cumulative ABS disbursement | Rs 202 crore |
| Parent law | Biological Diversity Act, 2002 |
| Action plan | National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2024 to 2030 |
| Global targets | Targets 13 and 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework |
| Upcoming summit | CBD COP 17 from 19 October 2026 at Yerevan, Armenia |
Exam Point of View
Remember the amount disbursed (Rs 2.02 crore), the recipients (27 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 UT Biodiversity Councils), the top ten share of Rs 1.43 crore, the cumulative figure of Rs 202 crore, the parent law (Biological Diversity Act, 2002), the NBSAP period 2024 to 2030, Targets 13 and 19 of the Kunming-Montreal framework, and that COP 17 to the CBD opens on 19 October 2026 at Yerevan, Armenia.
Practice Questions
How much did the National Biodiversity Authority disburse from seed-sector access and benefit-sharing contributions?
- A.Rs 1.43 crore
- B.Rs 2.02 crore
- C.Rs 20.2 crore
- D.Rs 202 crore
Show answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Rs 2.02 crore, the sum the Authority released among twenty-seven states and three union territories as their share of contributions paid by seed companies. Option A names the amount that went to the ten largest recipient states alone, which is a part of the total and not the total itself. Option C is simply a tenfold misreading of the figure and matches nothing in the announcement. Option D names the cumulative disbursement made by the Authority over the years, which reached that level once this release was added, so it measures the whole record rather than this single payment. Candidates should keep the three numbers apart: the single disbursement, the top ten share and the cumulative total, because questions are often framed to confuse them.
Which law provides the basis for India's access and benefit-sharing framework?
- A.The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- B.The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
- C.The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- D.The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
Show answer
Explanation
The correct answer is the Biological Diversity Act of that year, under which the National Biodiversity Authority, the State Biodiversity Boards and the Union Territory Biodiversity Councils function, and through which access and benefit-sharing is implemented. The framework also works with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for the period ending in the next decade. Option A deals with general environmental protection powers and not with benefit-sharing from genetic resources. Option B protects wild species and their habitats through schedules and sanctuaries, a separate scheme of law. Option D governs the diversion of forest land for non-forest use and has nothing to do with sharing the benefits of biological resources. The Act named in the correct option is the one that created the Authority making this disbursement.
Where is the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity being held?
- A.Yerevan, Armenia
- B.Kunming, China
- C.Montreal, Canada
- D.Nagoya, Japan
Show answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Yerevan, Armenia, where the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity begins later in the same month as this announcement. India's record on access and benefit-sharing was set out as the country prepared to take part. Option B, Kunming in China, and option C, Montreal in Canada, are wrong as the venue of this meeting, although both cities gave their names to the Global Biodiversity Framework whose Targets on benefit-sharing and resource mobilisation the Indian framework supports. Option D, Nagoya in Japan, is linked to the protocol on access and benefit-sharing adopted under the Convention, which makes it a tempting choice, but it is not the venue of this meeting either.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has the National Biodiversity Authority disbursed from seed-sector ABS contributions?
Rs 2.02 crore, shared among 27 state biodiversity boards and 3 union territory biodiversity councils. With this release the cumulative ABS disbursement by the NBA has reached Rs 202 crore.
Under which law does India's access and benefit-sharing framework work?
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, together with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2024 to 2030. It also supports Targets 13 and 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Where will COP 17 to the Convention on Biological Diversity be held?
At Yerevan in Armenia, beginning on 19 October 2026. India's ABS record was highlighted as the country prepared to take part in that meeting.
How were the state shares calculated?
Where individual benefit claimers could not be identified, the NBA followed rules recommended by an expert committee and apportioned shares by the area under cultivation of each biological resource, using the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare statistics.
Sources
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2321791 (opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau
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