**Executive Summary**
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), following its 77th meeting on March 23, 2026, has approved streamlined procedures for Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) fund utilization and revised guidelines for designated repositories. These measures aim to enhance transparency and equity in the distribution of funds to beneficiaries and local communities as per the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Key actions include the implementation of rationalized fund-sharing formulas and the mandatory digitization of voucher specimens for improved traceability.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**ABS Fund Utilization and Allocation**
* **Beneficiary Identification:** ABS funds must be channeled to identified beneficiaries or used for the socio-economic development of the source areas if beneficiaries are unknown.
* **Identifiable Source Formula:** When resources are accessed through institutions/repositories with an identifiable origin, 25–40% of funds go to the institution for conservation/value addition, while 60–75% is distributed to local communities via State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) or Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs).
* **Standard Sharing Formula:** In cases of inadequate information, a standard split of 30% to institutions and 70% to the NBA is prescribed; the NBA share is then used by SBBs/UTBCs for conservation activities.
* **Traders and Intermediaries:** For resources accessed via traders or those widely distributed, funds are utilized for conservation and sustainable management, with distribution to specific SBBs/UTBCs if the state of origin can be ascertained.
**Revised Guidelines for Designated Repositories**
* **Specimen Management:** New guidelines strengthen the framework for the safe custody, management, and documentation of voucher specimens.
* **Operational Standards:** Repositories must maintain robust provenance records and strictly adhere to standard operating procedures.
* **Digitization:** The NBA promotes the digitization of voucher specimens to improve accessibility for identification and verification while maintaining statutory restrictions on physical transfers.
* **Regulatory Compliance:** These measures are designed to improve scientific integrity, traceability, and accountability within the ABS framework.
**Impact Analysis**
**Institutions and Designated Repositories**
**Impact**
They are recognized for their role in conservation and value addition with a dedicated 25–40% (or 30% standard) share of ABS funds. They are subject to stricter management and documentation standards.
**Action Required**
Implement robust documentation practices, maintain provenance records, and digitize voucher specimens to enhance accessibility and traceability.
**Local Communities and Beneficiaries**
**Impact**
They receive the majority share (60–75%) of ABS funds when the source of biological resources is identifiable, supporting local socio-economic development.
**Action Required**
Receive and utilize benefits through the administrative framework of SBBs and UTBCs.
**State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs)**
**Impact**
They serve as the primary conduits for fund distribution and are responsible for executing conservation, sustainable use, and management activities using ABS funds.
**Action Required**
Manage the distribution of funds to local communities and oversee biodiversity management activities in accordance with the Act.
**National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)**
**Impact**
The NBA gains a streamlined framework for managing funds from unidentified sources and assumes a greater role in ensuring equitable benefit sharing through defined modalities.
**Action Required**
Oversee the implementation of the revised guidelines and ensure the rationalized sharing formulas are applied to all ABS realizations.
Key Entities Referenced
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The statutory body responsible for approving measures to streamline the utilization of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds and revising guidelines for biological repositories.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: The primary legislation under which the NBA operates, specifically referenced for the legal channeling of funds to beneficiaries under Sections 27 and 32.
Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS): The regulatory framework and fund mechanism ensuring that benefits from biological resources are shared with local communities, institutions, and for conservation purposes.
State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs): Regional entities responsible for the distribution of ABS funds to local communities and managing activities related to biodiversity conservation.
Guidelines for Designated Repositories: Revised policy document governing the safe custody, documentation, and digitisation of biological resource specimens to ensure traceability and regulatory compliance.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Major Policy Drive by NBA to Streamline ABS
Fund Utilisation; Guidelines for Designated
Repositories Revised
Posted On: 17 APR 2026 8:47PM by PIB Delhi
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), in its 77th meeting held on 23rd March 2026 in Chennai,
approved a series of measures to strengthen the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002,
including streamlined procedures for utilisation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds and revised
guidelines for designated repositories.
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) amount realised by the NBA must be channelled back to identified
beneficiaries in accordance with Section 27 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Where beneficiaries
cannot be identified, these funds are to be utilised for the socio-economic development of areas where the
biological resources originate.
To ensure effective utilisation of ABS funds in cases involving unidentified beneficiaries, the NBA, with
the support of an Expert Committee, developed detailed modalities for deploying funds generated through
access to bioresources via traders, markets, repositories and institutions. These modalities have since been
approved by the Authority, particularly for cases where tracing the original source of the biological
resources is not feasible.
Under the approved framework, sharing of ABS funds has been rationalised with clearly defined
percentages to ensure transparency, equity and consistency. Where biological resources are accessed from
institutions or repositories and the source of origin is identifiable, 25-40% of the ABS amount will be
allocated to the concerned institutions or repositories in recognition of their role in conservation,
documentation and value addition. The remaining 60-75% will be distributed to local communities or
beneficiaries through the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils
(UTBCs).
The framework incorporates flexibility to adjust these proportions based on factors such as the extent of
value addition by institutions, clarity of source of origin and specific conservation requirements. In cases
where adequate information is not available, a standard sharing formula of 30% to institutions and 70% to
the NBA has been prescribed. The latter will be shared with SBBs and UTBCs for activities relating to
biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and management, in accordance with Section 32 of the Act.
In cases where biological resources are accessed from traders or intermediaries and are widely distributed
across the country, or where their origin cannot be ascertained, ABS funds will be utilised in accordance
with Section 27 of the Act for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and management. Where the
origin can be ascertained to specific states based on available data, the funds will be distributed to the
concerned SBBs or UTBCs for utilisation as per the provisions of the Act.Guidelines for designated repositories issued by the NBA earlier were reviewed and revised with the
support of an expert committee to meet the present needs. The Authority considered and approved the
revised guidelines for designated repositories under the BD Act. The revised guidelines seek to strengthen
the framework for the safe custody and management of voucher specimens of biological resources
accessed under the BD Act. It emphasises robust documentation practices, maintenance of provenance
records and adherence to standard operating procedures.
The guidelines further promote the digitisation of voucher specimens to enhance accessibility for
identification and verification, while ensuring that restrictions on the physical transfer of biological
materials are maintained in accordance with statutory provisions. This is expected to improve traceability,
scientific integrity and regulatory compliance.
These measures mark a significant step towards enhancing transparency, accountability and efficiency in
the implementation of the ABS framework, while ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising
from the utilisation of biological resources.
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