NBA releases ₹15.52 crore ABS proceeds from mustard genetic resources
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UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.
The National Biodiversity Authority released ₹15.52 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing proceeds from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, which developed ten mustard hybrids from India’s biological resources. As no single source community could be traced, the money goes to 26 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 UT Councils in proportion to mustard area.
- Release date
- 13 Aug 2026
- Amount
- ₹15.52 crore
- Company
- Pioneer Overseas Corporation
- Crop
- mustard (Brassica juncea), ten commercial hybrids
- Shared among
- 26 SBBs and 3 UTBCs
- Largest share
- Rajasthan, ₹6.43 crore
The NBA’s ABS release for mustard: what happened?
When a company earns from India’s plants or animals, the Biological Diversity Act says a share must come back for conservation. Usually it goes to the community that gave the resource. Here the parent lines came from open markets, so no single source was known.
- An NBA Expert Committee framed a new rule: if resources come through intermediaries, ABS goes to the States where the crop is grown.
- Area data came from ICAR-Indian Institute of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur.
- Rajasthan has nearly 42% of mustard area; Uttar Pradesh gets ₹2.28 crore and Madhya Pradesh ₹1.86 crore.
- NBA has released ₹182.5 crore in ABS so far, ₹116.22 crore in the last 12 months.
How must States use the money?
- Under Section 32 of the Biological Diversity Act.
- Uses include People’s Biodiversity Registers, in-situ and ex-situ conservation, restoring ecosystems, Biodiversity Heritage Sites and Biodiversity Management Committees.
- This follows the Nagoya Protocol and Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Why does the NBA’s ABS release for mustard matter?
- Biodiversity law: A new model for ABS when the source is untraceable.
- Federal: Almost every State gets a share by crop area.
What can Prelims ask on the NBA’s ABS release for mustard?
- NBA: statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002; under MoEFCC.
- ABS: Access and Benefit Sharing, linked to the Nagoya Protocol.
- Mustard ABS 2026: ₹15.52 crore; Rajasthan largest share.
What should UPPCS aspirants note?
- UP angle: Uttar Pradesh gets the second-largest share, ₹2.28 crore, for the UP State Biodiversity Board.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-08-13): NBA released ₹15.52 crore ABS proceeds from mustard genetic resources, shared among 26 SBBs and 3 UTBCs based on mustard area.
- ABS rewards farmers who conserved the germplasm.
Quotable data pointNBA released ₹15.52 crore ABS proceeds from mustard genetic resources, shared among 26 SBBs and 3 UTBCs based on mustard area.
PIB: MoEFCC: NBA ABS mustard, 13 Aug 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: ABS.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
In the 2026 mustard ABS release, the share of each State was based on
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (MoEFCC), 13 Aug 2026.
Questions students ask about this
What did the NBA release on 13 August 2026?
₹15.52 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing proceeds from ten mustard hybrids developed by Pioneer Overseas Corporation.
How was the amount shared?
Among 26 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 UT Biodiversity Councils, in proportion to mustard area.
Which State gets the most?
Rajasthan, ₹6.43 crore, as it has nearly 42 per cent of mustard area.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: MoEFCC: NBA ABS mustard, 13 Aug 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending