National Biodiversity Authority releases ₹68 lakh to Maharashtra BMCs under Access and Benefit Sharing
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released ₹68 lakh on 8 January 2026 to Biodiversity Management Committees in Wada tehsil (Palghar) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework, for commercial use of Bacillus soil bacteria in probiotic products.
Summary
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ₹68 lakh under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework to Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in Wada tehsil of Palghar district and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra, the Environment Ministry said on 8 January 2026. The money comes from the access and commercial use of soil bacteria of the Bacillus genus to develop probiotic products. About 15% of ABS applications involve microorganisms, and the NBA has so far released about ₹8 crore to 200+ BMCs and seven institutions in Maharashtra alone.
Key facts
- Authority
- National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
- Amount
- ₹68 lakh
- Beneficiaries
- BMCs of Wada tehsil (Palghar) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
- Resource
- Soil bacteria of genus Bacillus — used in probiotic products
- Microbes in ABS
- ~15% of ABS applications
- Maharashtra total
- ~₹8 crore to 200+ BMCs and 7 institutions
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The ₹68 lakh released by the National Biodiversity Authority to Maharashtra in January 2026 arose from commercial use of which biological resource?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Bacillus soil bacteria
PIB (MoEFCC): the disbursement stems from the commercial use of soil bacteria of the Bacillus genus for probiotic products.
Consider the following statements about the NBA's ABS disbursement of January 2026: 1. The money went to Biodiversity Management Committees in Wada tehsil of Palghar and to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. 2. About 15% of ABS applications involve microorganisms. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (MoEFCC): both are correct.