UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Major Policy Drive by NBA to Streamline ABS Fund Utilisation; Guidelines for Designated Repositories Revised

Q1. In the context of India's biodiversity governance, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is most precisely described as which one of the following?

  • A. A statutory autonomous body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  • B. A constitutional body created by an amendment to the Constitution of India
  • C. A registered society set up by an executive resolution of the MoEFCC
  • D. An attached office of the Ministry of Environment functioning without independent statutory status

Q2. The National Biodiversity Authority was constituted under which section of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002?

  • A. Section 8
  • B. Section 21
  • C. Section 27
  • D. Section 41

Q3. The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act, through the National Biodiversity Authority, is operationalised under which Union ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • B. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • C. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Science and Technology

Q4. With reference to benefit sharing under Section 21 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, consider the following statements: 1. The National Biodiversity Authority determines benefit-sharing terms, which may include monetary benefits such as royalties. 2. Non-monetary benefits under the framework may include joint ownership of intellectual property rights and technology transfer. 3. The quantum and mechanism of benefit sharing under Section 21 are determined by the State Biodiversity Boards rather than the National Biodiversity Authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The National Biodiversity Authority determines benefit-sharing terms, which may include monetary benefits such as royalties.
  2. Non-monetary benefits under the framework may include joint ownership of intellectual property rights and technology transfer.
  3. The quantum and mechanism of benefit sharing under Section 21 are determined by the State Biodiversity Boards rather than the National Biodiversity Authority.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The reforms approved at the National Biodiversity Authority's 77th meeting at Chennai to streamline ABS fund utilisation and designated repositories included the following measures. Which one of the following is NOT correctly stated? 1. Streamlining the channelling of ABS dues under Section 27 of the Act. 2. Revising the guidelines for designated repositories notified under Section 39. 3. Operationalising amendments brought in by the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023. 4. Abolishing the requirement of depositing voucher specimens with designated repositories. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Streamlining the channelling of ABS dues under Section 27 of the Act.
  2. Revising the guidelines for designated repositories notified under Section 39.
  3. Operationalising amendments brought in by the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023.
  4. Abolishing the requirement of depositing voucher specimens with designated repositories.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q6. The channelling of Access and Benefit Sharing monies to identified benefit claimers — and their use for socio-economic development of the area of origin where claimers are not identifiable — streamlined by the 2026 NBA reforms, is provided for under which section of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002?

  • A. Section 27
  • B. Section 21
  • C. Section 39
  • D. Section 8

Q7. Which of the following are correctly identified as changes introduced by the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023? 1. Decriminalisation of offences under the Act. 2. Exemption of registered AYUSH practitioners and users of codified traditional knowledge from benefit-sharing obligations. 3. Requirement of a Certificate of Registration from the NBA before applying for IPR based on Indian biological resources. 4. Abolition of the three-tier institutional structure of NBA, State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Decriminalisation of offences under the Act.
  2. Exemption of registered AYUSH practitioners and users of codified traditional knowledge from benefit-sharing obligations.
  3. Requirement of a Certificate of Registration from the NBA before applying for IPR based on Indian biological resources.
  4. Abolition of the three-tier institutional structure of NBA, State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. Comparing the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 with the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, consider the following statements: 1. Under the 2002 Act research and bio-survey activities attracted benefit-sharing requirements, which the 2023 Amendment removed. 2. The 2023 Amendment came into force on 1 April 2024. 3. The 2023 Amendment made offences under the Act cognizable and non-bailable, replacing an earlier civil penalty regime. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the 2002 Act research and bio-survey activities attracted benefit-sharing requirements, which the 2023 Amendment removed.
  2. The 2023 Amendment came into force on 1 April 2024.
  3. The 2023 Amendment made offences under the Act cognizable and non-bailable, replacing an earlier civil penalty regime.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. India's First National Report on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, was prepared and submitted by which body?

  • A. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority
  • B. The Ministry of External Affairs exclusively
  • C. The Ministry of Science and Technology through the Department of Biotechnology alone
  • D. The NITI Aayog on behalf of the Government of India

Q10. Under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, a 'designated repository' is best defined as which one of the following?

  • A. An institution designated by the Central Government, in consultation with the NBA, for keeping in safe custody categories of biological resources, including voucher specimens
  • B. A State-level fund that pools Access and Benefit Sharing collections before disbursal to benefit claimers
  • C. A digital database that consolidates all People's Biodiversity Registers maintained by Biodiversity Management Committees
  • D. A seed bank maintained by State Biodiversity Boards for conserving agricultural landraces and folk varieties

Q11. With reference to the National Biodiversity Authority's Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) performance as reported for FY 2025-26, consider the following statements: 1. In FY 2025-26 the NBA realised about Rs 21.26 crore under the ABS mechanism. 2. The Seed sector was the largest contributor to ABS realisation in FY 2025-26, ahead of the AYUSH sector. 3. Cumulatively, the amount disbursed to beneficiaries has exceeded the total ABS funds realised from users of biological resources. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In FY 2025-26 the NBA realised about Rs 21.26 crore under the ABS mechanism.
  2. The Seed sector was the largest contributor to ABS realisation in FY 2025-26, ahead of the AYUSH sector.
  3. Cumulatively, the amount disbursed to beneficiaries has exceeded the total ABS funds realised from users of biological resources.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. The institutional framework established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 for implementing the Act comprises how many tiers?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five