Major Policy Drive by NBA to Streamline ABS Fund Utilisation; Guidelines for Designated Repositories Revised

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, has tightened procedures for utilisation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds and revised norms for Designated Repositories.
• Decisions taken at NBA's 77th meeting on 23 March 2026 in Chennai, operationalising amendments brought in by the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023.
• Relevant for UPSC at the intersection of environment-governance (GS-III), CBD/Nagoya Protocol obligations (GS-II) and federal implementation through BMCs/SBBs.