Parliament Question: Transparency under ABS Framework

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 150 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026 Transparency under ABS Framework 150. SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI: SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the details of parameters and criteria used to define “traditional knowledge” under existing biodiversity legislation; (b) whether the Government has assessed the ability of State Biodiversity Boards to obtain meaningful Prior Informed Consent (PIC) from communities within prescribed timelines under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) system, if so, the findings thereof; (c) the details of issues and concerns raised by community members regarding consent procedures, benefit-sharing mechanisms and transparency under the ABS framework; and (d) the details regarding the non-monetary benefits provided to farmers under ABS framework, like technology transfer, capacity building at local levels and education and training, State/UT and year- wise including Andhra Pradesh? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (d): The framework of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (amendment in 2023) enabled the State Biodiversity Boards to obtain Prior Informed Consent of the concerned Biodiversity Management Committees before taking decisions on applications for access to biological resources including traditional knowledge associated thereto, as stipulated under the Section 41 of the Act. The issues and concerns raised by community members regarding consent procedures, benefit- sharing mechanisms and transparency under the ABS framework are dealt with by the respective State Biodiversity Boards/ Union Territory Biodiversity Councils. The non-monetary benefits provided to communities including farmers in the States/ UTs including Andhra Pradesh, as prescribed under the Biological Diversity (Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulations, 2025 inter alia include: i. Providing institutional capacity building; ii. Remediation and restoration activities to prevent habitat destruction or pollution or contamination of areas; iii. Contribution/collaboration related to education and training in India on conservation and sustainable use of biological resources;iv. Setting up of production, research, and development units/facilities contributing to the local economy and income generation for the local communities; v. Taking appropriate measures for conservation and protection of species including rare, endangered and threatened species by raising nurseries and/or plantations in the area from where biological resources have been accessed; vi. Instituting studies/projects on inventorisation and resource assessment of biodiversity; vii. Sharing of scientific information relevant to conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity including biological inventories and taxonomic studies; viii. Conducting research directed towards priority needs in India including food, health and livelihood security focusing on biological resources; ix. Providing scholarships including living costs, etc., to individuals and financial aid to Indian institutions preferably to regions, tribes/sects contributing to the delivery of biological resources and subsequent profitability, if any. ***