UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Submits 1st National Report on Implementation of Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing to Convention on Biological Diversity

Q1. Under the Nagoya Protocol, what is an 'Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance' (IRCC)?

• A. A permit (or its equivalent) issued by a providing Party granting access to genetic resources, made available to the ABS Clearing-House as evidence that access was based on prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms
• B. A patent granted by a national IP office over a product derived from a country's genetic resources
• C. A certificate issued by the CBD Secretariat ranking countries by the volume of genetic resources they export
• D. A trade licence issued by the WTO permitting cross-border movement of biological samples

Q2. Consider the following statements about the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing: 1. It was adopted at CoP-10 held at Nagoya, Japan, in 2010. 2. It entered into force globally in October 2014. 3. It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. 4. It was adopted in 2002 simultaneously with India's Biological Diversity Act. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. It was adopted at CoP-10 held at Nagoya, Japan, in 2010.
2. It entered into force globally in October 2014.
3. It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
4. It was adopted in 2002 simultaneously with India's Biological Diversity Act.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 4 only
• D. 2 and 4

Q3. With reference to India's domestic legal framework for Access and Benefit Sharing, consider the following statements: 1. The Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 replaced the earlier Biological Diversity Rules, 2004. 2. The ABS framework has been operationalised through the ABS Regulations, 2025 notified under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 3. It is the Nagoya Protocol, rather than the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, that serves as India's domestic enabling statute for ABS. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 replaced the earlier Biological Diversity Rules, 2004.
2. The ABS framework has been operationalised through the ABS Regulations, 2025 notified under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
3. It is the Nagoya Protocol, rather than the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, that serves as India's domestic enabling statute for ABS.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding India's institutional architecture for biodiversity governance: 1. The National Biodiversity Authority is established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 2. The National Biodiversity Authority is headquartered in Chennai. 3. Biodiversity Management Committees are constituted at the local body level under Section 41 of the Act. 4. State Biodiversity Boards are constituted at the district level. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly stated?

1. The National Biodiversity Authority is established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
2. The National Biodiversity Authority is headquartered in Chennai.
3. Biodiversity Management Committees are constituted at the local body level under Section 41 of the Act.
4. State Biodiversity Boards are constituted at the district level.

• A. 1 and 3
• B. 4 only
• C. 2 and 4
• D. 3 only

Q5. With reference to India's position in issuing Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol, consider the following statements: 1. India has published 3,561 of the 6,311 IRCCs available globally on the ABS Clearing-House. 2. India is the single largest issuer of IRCCs, followed by France, Spain and Argentina. 3. Every one of the more than 140 countries registered with the ABS Clearing-House has issued at least one IRCC. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. India has published 3,561 of the 6,311 IRCCs available globally on the ABS Clearing-House.
2. India is the single largest issuer of IRCCs, followed by France, Spain and Argentina.
3. Every one of the more than 140 countries registered with the ABS Clearing-House has issued at least one IRCC.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. India's First National Report on implementation of the Nagoya Protocol was prepared and submitted to the CBD Secretariat by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change together with which one of the following bodies?

• A. National Biodiversity Authority
• B. Wildlife Institute of India
• C. Botanical Survey of India
• D. Zoological Survey of India

Q7. With reference to the milestones of the Nagoya Protocol, consider the following statements: 1. The Protocol was adopted at CoP-10 in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010, whereas India ratified it at CoP-11 held in Hyderabad in 2012. 2. The Protocol entered into force only after the deposit of the 50th instrument of ratification, in October 2014. 3. India is the only country ever to have ratified the Nagoya Protocol. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Protocol was adopted at CoP-10 in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010, whereas India ratified it at CoP-11 held in Hyderabad in 2012.
2. The Protocol entered into force only after the deposit of the 50th instrument of ratification, in October 2014.
3. India is the only country ever to have ratified the Nagoya Protocol.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. During the Presidency of the Conference of the Parties of which country did the Nagoya Protocol secure the requisite ratifications enabling its entry into force in 2014?

• A. India
• B. Japan
• C. Republic of Korea
• D. Mexico

Q9. Consider the following statements about the monitoring and reporting framework relevant to India's First National Report under the Nagoya Protocol: 1. Article 29 of the Nagoya Protocol deals with monitoring and reporting. 2. The First National Report contributes to Target 13 of India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). 3. NBSAP Target 13 corresponds to Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on Access and Benefit Sharing. 4. The reporting period of the First National Report runs from 2010 to 2024. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Article 29 of the Nagoya Protocol deals with monitoring and reporting.
2. The First National Report contributes to Target 13 of India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
3. NBSAP Target 13 corresponds to Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on Access and Benefit Sharing.
4. The reporting period of the First National Report runs from 2010 to 2024.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1 and 4 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 3 and 4 only

Q10. The National Biodiversity Authority was established as a statutory body of the Government of India under which one of the following enactments?

• A. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
• B. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
• C. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• D. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980