National Biodiversity Authority reconstitutes Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity under Dr P. L. Gautam
The National Biodiversity Authority has reconstituted its Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity for one year under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, with Dr P. L. Gautam as Chair.
Summary
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, for one year, as announced on 13 June 2026. The committee will give expert guidance on conservation, sustainable use and access and benefit-sharing of agrobiodiversity. Padma Shri Dr P. L. Gautam, agricultural scientist and former Chairperson of both the NBA and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA), is the Chair, and the PPVFRA Chairperson is Co-Chair. The committee has been an advisory body of the NBA since 2005.
Key facts
- Body
- Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity, National Biodiversity Authority
- Legal basis
- Section 13(1), Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- Term
- One year
- Chair
- Dr P. L. Gautam (former Chairperson of NBA and PPVFRA)
- Co-Chair
- Chairperson, PPVFRA
- Advisory body since
- 2005
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Under which provision has the National Biodiversity Authority reconstituted its Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity (June 2026)?
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Correct answer: C — Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
The committee was reconstituted under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, for one year.
Consider the following statements about the NBA's Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity (June 2026): 1. It has been reconstituted for a period of one year. 2. Dr P. L. Gautam, a former Chairperson of both the NBA and PPVFRA, is its Chair. 3. The Chairperson of PPVFRA serves as its Co-Chair. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are stated in the Ministry of Environment release. The committee has advised the NBA since 2005.