International Conventions (Environment & Ecology).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change; Mains GS3
Montreal Protocol for UPSC: how the ozone hole formed, Vienna Convention, phase-out schedules, Kigali Amendment on HFCs, India Cooling Action Plan and…
CITES for UPSC: origin, Appendices I, II and III, permits, CoPs, India's Wildlife Protection Act 2022 changes, WCCB, TRAFFIC and wildlife trade…
On 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 2026
On 14 October 2026 the Centre approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement. India, a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party since 2022, will become a full Contracting Party. Indian vessels can then fish squids, toothfish, alfonsino and other non-migratory stocks in the SIOFA area and join its scientific and compliance bodies.
UPSC angle: Prelims: SIOFA vs IOTC, India's status, species, UNCLOS references. · Mains GS-III: blue economy and fisheries; GS-II: international agreements.
14 Oct 2026
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 2026
At the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Hobart, Australia (28 September to 2 October 2026), India called for science-based conservation of whales and other cetaceans. The meeting marks 80 years of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in 1946. India has been an IWC member since 1981.
UPSC angle: Prelims: IWC parent convention; cetacean examples (Gangetic dolphin).
28 Sep 2026
On World Ozone Day, 16 September 2026, in Mumbai, the Environment Minister of State launched India's Net Zero Portal and the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) Dashboard. The portal lets Indian entities register and disclose voluntary net zero targets. The dashboard tracks progress of the National Missions under the NAPCC on one platform.
UPSC angle: Prelims: World Ozone Day = Montreal Protocol; NAPCC year.
16 Sep 2026
On 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 2026