National Biodiversity Authority to mark 23rd Foundation Day on 1 October with over Rs. 278 crore realised through Access and Benefit Sharing

National Institution Environment & Climate

National Biodiversity Authority to mark 23rd Foundation Day on 1 October with over Rs. 278 crore realised through Access and Benefit Sharing

30 September 2026

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) will mark its 23rd Foundation Day on 1 October 2026, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released a note on 30 September. Since 2008, over Rs. 278 crore has been realised through Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), and more than Rs. 200 crore has been disbursed for biodiversity conservation and community benefits. The NBA works through a three-tier structure: the NBA nationally, State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level. The disbursements have supported over 10,500 Biodiversity Management Committees, 28 State Biodiversity Boards and 7 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils. Around Rs. 100 crore has been released for Red Sanders conservation through the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and State Biodiversity Board.

Realised through ABS since 2008: over Rs. 278 crore Biodiversity Management Committees supported: over 10,500 State Biodiversity Boards supported: 28 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils supported: 7

Why it matters for exams: The NBA and the three-tier biodiversity governance structure are standard environment-law questions in UPSC and Kerala PSC papers.

Kerala PSCUPSC

30 September 2026 Source: Press Information Bureau

In plain words

ABS Access and Benefit Sharing — Users of biological resources share the benefits with the providers and local communities.

BMC Biodiversity Management Committee — The local-level body in the NBA's three-tier structure.