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In a significant stride toward strengthening India’s ecological governance, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), during its 77th meeting in March 2026, approved a comprehensive policy overhaul. This drive focuses on two critical pillars: streamlining the utilization of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds and modernizing the management of Designated Repositories.

These measures align with the Biological Diversity Act (BDA), 2002, ensuring that the commercial use of India’s vast bio-resources translates into tangible benefits for local communities and the environment.

Rationalizing the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Framework

The ABS mechanism is a legal mandate ensuring that those who access biological resources for commercial purposes share a portion of their gains with the "custodians" of that biodiversity. The 2026 guidelines introduce a transparent, formula-based approach to resolve long-standing ambiguities in fund distribution.

1. The New Fund Sharing Formula

The NBA has rationalized the allocation of funds based on the identifiability of the resource's source:

• Identifiable Source: In cases where the origin of the bio-resource is known, 25–40% of the ABS amount is allocated to the concerned institutions or repositories to reward their role in documentation and value addition. The lion’s share, 60–75%, is channeled back to local communities and beneficiaries via State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs).
• Non-Identifiable Source: Where the specific origin is difficult to trace, a standard ratio of 30% (to institutions) and 70% (to the NBA) is applied. These funds are then utilized for broader biodiversity conservation and management under Section 32 of the Act.

2. Addressing Complex Supply Chains

Bio-resources are often accessed through traders and intermediaries, making it difficult to ascertain a single point of origin.

• Widely Distributed Resources: If resources are spread across the country with no clear origin, the funds are utilized collectively for socio-economic development and conservation in accordance with Section 27 of the BDA.
• State-Specific Data: If data allows for the identification of specific states, the NBA will distribute the funds to the respective SBBs/UTBCs for localized utilization.

Modernizing Designated Repositories

Designated Repositories act as the "banks" for India’s biological heritage, housing voucher specimens of resources accessed under the Act. The revised guidelines seek to transform these from mere storage units into centers of scientific integrity.

Key Reforms in Repository Management:

• Provenance and Traceability: Repositories must now maintain robust "provenance" records—the complete history of ownership and origin—to prevent biopiracy and ensure legal compliance.
• Digitization of Specimens: A major policy shift involves the digitization of voucher specimens. This enhances global accessibility for verification and scientific identification while minimizing the physical transfer of sensitive biological materials, which often carries ecological and legal risks.
• Strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Revised guidelines mandate rigorous documentation practices and safe custody protocols to maintain the scientific integrity of samples.

Strategic Significance for Biodiversity Governance

• Equity and Social Justice: By defining clear percentages for local communities, the NBA prevents institutional monopolies over ABS funds. This ensures that the primary conservers—tribal and rural communities—receive their fair share of commercial returns.
• Socio-Economic Development: The directive to utilize funds for the development of the "area of origin" ensures that biodiversity conservation is linked with local prosperity.
• Scientific Integrity: The emphasis on digitization and provenance records aligns Indian standards with global best practices, making the regulatory framework more efficient for researchers and industry players alike.
• Strengthening Federalism: The active role of SBBs and UTBCs in fund distribution reinforces the three-tier structure (National, State, and Local) envisaged under the Biological Diversity Act.