GS3 · Environment · BiodiversityOn 17 October 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) said it had shared ₹1.19 crore with 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one UT Biodiversity Council. The money came from seed companies that used Indian maize, rice, pearl millet and cotton for research and commercial hybrids. As the crops were bought from markets and the original holders could not be traced, the amount was split in proportion to each State’s cultivation area. The release comes two days before the CBD COP 17 opens in Yerevan.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NBA, BD Act 2002, Nagoya Protocol, BMCs, CBD COP 17. · Mains GS-III: benefit sharing and community-led conservation.
18 Oct 2026GS3 · Environment (biodiversity governance)The National Biodiversity Authority distributed ₹2.02 crore of Access and Benefit-Sharing money, paid by seed companies using crops such as rice, tomato and okra, among 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 UT councils by cultivation area. Its total ABS disbursement has now reached ₹202 crore, ahead of CBD COP 17 in Yerevan from 19 October 2026.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ABS, KMGBF targets, COP 17 venue. · Mains GS-III: biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing.
10 Oct 2026GS3 · BiodiversityOn 5 September 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority said its cumulative Access and Benefit-Sharing disbursements had crossed ₹200 crore. It sanctioned ₹8.23 crore to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 5 UT Biodiversity Councils, from seed companies' use of bitter gourd, okra, chilli and onion. Money is shared by crop area because the source farmers cannot be traced.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Nagoya Protocol = ABS.
5 Sep 2026GS3 · BiodiversityOn 30 August 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority disbursed ₹5.68 crore under Access and Benefit-Sharing to State Biodiversity Boards, UT Biodiversity Councils and a research institution. Most of it relates to okra, cucumber and watermelon accessed by seed companies. Okra alone accounted for ₹3.51 crore to 32 boards. Total ABS disbursed has crossed ₹191 crore.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ABS; Nagoya Protocol.
30 Aug 2026GS3 · BiodiversityOn 22 August 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority released ₹2.82 crore under the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism. Of this, ₹2.80 crore went to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 UT Biodiversity Councils, and ₹2.01 lakh to ICAR-IIHR, Karnataka. The money came from companies using Indian genetic resources in vegetable hybrids and microbial strains.
UPSC angle: Prelims: SBBs; ABS.
22 Aug 2026GS3 · BiodiversityThe 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.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ABS.
13 Aug 2026 
