**Executive Summary**
On April 7, 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the designation of two institutions as official repositories under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This action aims to strengthen the national network for the scientific conservation, documentation, and research of biological resources. The notification mandates that individuals discovering new taxa must deposit voucher specimens at these designated facilities to ensure safe custody and regulatory compliance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Newly Designated Repositories**
* **Referral Centre Bhavasagara (CMLRE, Kochi):** A national facility dedicated to deep-sea biodiversity, maintaining over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens, including deep-sea fishes and invertebrates.
* **Agharkar Research Institute (Pune):** Designated for its MACS Collection of Microorganisms (specializing in rare, anaerobic, and extremophilic species) and the National Fungal Culture Collection of India (focused on fungal diversity and classification).
**Regulatory Provisions and Requirements**
* **Section 39 Mandate:** The Central Government is empowered to designate institutions as repositories for various categories of biological resources to support safe custody and documentation.
* **Mandatory Deposits:** Any person discovering a new taxon is legally required to notify a designated repository and deposit the corresponding voucher specimens.
* **National Network Expansion:** With these additions, the total number of designated national repositories under the Act has reached 18.
**Operational Objectives**
* **Traceability and Compliance:** Strengthening documentation to support the implementation of access and benefit-sharing (ABS) provisions through improved record-keeping.
* **Research and Innovation:** Facilitating transparent and accountable access to biological materials for scientific research across agriculture, health, and industry.
* **Capacity Building:** Providing essential services such as identification, training, and collaborative programs to academic and industrial stakeholders.
**Impact Analysis**
**Researchers and Taxonomists**
**Impact**
Individuals discovering new species gain a structured framework for the preservation and documentation of their findings. They also gain access to a larger national database of authenticated specimens for comparative research.
**Action Required**
Must notify designated repositories of any new taxon discovery and deposit voucher specimens as per the Biological Diversity Act.
**Designated Institutions (CMLRE Kochi and Agharkar Research Institute Pune)**
**Impact**
These institutions are formally integrated into the national biodiversity framework, receiving an official mandate to act as custodians of the nation's biological heritage.
**Action Required**
Must maintain biological materials in safe custody under appropriate scientific conditions and provide services for identification, classification, and capacity building.
**Industrial and Academic Stakeholders**
**Impact**
Entities in agriculture, health, and industry benefit from enhanced access to well-characterized microbial, fungal, and marine resources, supporting innovation and commercial applications.
**Action Required**
Must utilize these repositories for the legal acquisition and identification of biological resources, ensuring compliance with transparent and accountable access protocols.
Key Entities Referenced
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: The primary legislation under which Section 39 empowers the government to designate institutions as repositories for the documentation and conservation of biological resources.
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The statutory body that establishes guidelines and recommends institutions for designation as national repositories to ensure the safe custody of biological materials.
Referral Centre Bhavasagara (CMLRE, Kochi): A national facility dedicated to deep-sea biodiversity designated as a repository for taxonomically identified marine organisms and voucher specimens.
Agharkar Research Institute (Pune): Host institution for the newly designated MACS Collection of Microorganisms and the National Fungal Culture Collection of India.
Convention on Biological Diversity: The international treaty whose objectives of conservation and equitable benefit-sharing provide the framework for India's repository network initiative.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Government notifies Two Key Institutions as
Repositories under Biological Diversity Act, 2002
National Network of Repositories further strengthened,
enhancing Scientific Conservation and Systematic
Documentation of Biological Resources, to facilitate
Research and Innovation
Posted On: 07 APR 2026 7:47PM by PIB Delhi
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), in consultation with the Union Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change, has enabled the notification of two institutions - Referral Centre Bhavasagara
at CMLRE, Kochi and MACS Collection of Microorganisms and National Fungal Culture Collection at
Agharkar Research Institute, Pune - as designated repositories under Section 39 of the Biological
Diversity Act, 2002.
The Section empowers Central Government to designate institutions as repositories for different categories
of biological resources. These repositories will support the safe custody of biological materials, including
voucher specimens, and strengthen the documentation of newly discovered species, as well as biological
resources used for research and commercial purposes.
The repositories are entrusted with maintaining biological materials in safe custody, and any person
discovering a new taxon is required to notify the designated repository and deposit the corresponding
voucher specimens. To facilitate this process, the NBA has issued guidelines outlining the criteria for
institutions seeking designation as repositories. Proposals received from institutions are considered by the
Authority (Governing body of NBA) and recommended to the Ministry for notification.
In this context, proposals were received from the Referral Centre Bhavasagara at the Centre for Marine
Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, and from the Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, for its
MACS Collection of Microorganisms and National Fungal Culture Collection. These proposals were dulyexamined by an expert committee and recommended for notification in line with the prescribed guidelines.
The Referral Centre Bhavasagara at CMLRE is a unique national facility dedicated to deep-sea
biodiversity. It maintains over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens,
covering a wide range of marine organisms, including invertebrates and deep-sea fishes. The centre
represents an important national resource for advancing marine research, particularly in areas that remain
relatively unexplored.
The MACS Collection of Microorganisms at Agharkar Research Institute is a well-established facility
with long-standing expertise in preserving microbial cultures. It has developed specialised capabilities in
handling rare and difficult-to-grow microorganisms, including anaerobic and extremophilic species. Its
collection is among the most diverse and well-characterised in the country, supporting research and
applications across agriculture, health, and industry.
The National Fungal Culture Collection of India, also at Agharkar Research Institute, is a leading
repository dedicated to fungal diversity. It maintains authenticated fungal cultures collected from diverse
habitats across India and supports research in fungal identification and classification. The facility also
provides services to academic institutions, research organisations, and industries, while contributing to
capacity building through training and collaborative programmes.
So far, 18 institutions have been designated as national repositories under Section 39 of the Act. With the
addition of these two institutions, the national network of repositories is further strengthened, enhancing
the conservation and systematic documentation of biological resources.This will ensure that biological materials are preserved under appropriate scientific conditions and made
accessible for research and innovation in a transparent and accountable manner. It will also support the
effective implementation of access and benefit sharing provisions by improving traceability and record-
keeping.
This initiative reflects India’s continued commitment to the objectives of the Convention on Biological
Diversity and reinforces efforts to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources,
while ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.
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