PIB Summaries 07 September 2026 | Legacy IAS Academy
02
National Biodiversity Authority Crosses ₹200-Crore Milestone in Access and Benefit-Sharing Disbursement
GS-III · Environment & Ecology — Biodiversity, Conservation
Prelims + Mains
PIB · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · Release dated 05 September 2026
The National Biodiversity Authority’s cumulative Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) disbursements have crossed ₹200 crore, with a fresh ₹8.23 crore sanctioned to State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils from the commercial use of four vegetable crops.
◈ Background & Context
ABS is the mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 by which companies accessing India’s biological resources for research or commercial use must share a portion of resulting benefits with the communities and States associated with those resources.
The latest tranche was realised from three seed companies for their use of Bitter Gourd, Okra, Chilli and Onion germplasm, and is being distributed to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 5 UT Biodiversity Councils.
✎ Mains Practice Question
Explain the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Discuss the practical challenges in ensuring that ABS proceeds reach the actual custodians of biological resources rather than only the State-level institutional structure. 15 marks · 250 words