National Biodiversity Authority gives ₹6.09 crore to State Biodiversity Boards and UT Councils for 2025–26
The National Biodiversity Authority announced on 11 February 2026 that it has extended ₹6.09 crore to State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils for FY 2025–26.
Summary
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, announced on 11 February 2026 that it has extended ₹6.09 crore in financial assistance to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) based on proposals for FY 2025–26. The support shifts focus from merely constituting Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) to making them functional, improving the quality of People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) and strengthening Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) at the grassroots. BMCs are constituted by local bodies under Section 41 of the Biological Diversity Act and maintain PBRs recording local biological resources and traditional knowledge. The support is provided under the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023.
Key facts
- Announced
- 11 February 2026
- Amount
- ₹6.09 crore for FY 2025–26
- Recipients
- State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils
- BMCs
- Constituted by local bodies under Section 41
- Focus
- Functional BMCs, quality PBRs, ABS implementation
- Parent law
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (assent 5 February 2003)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
How much financial support did the National Biodiversity Authority extend to State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils for FY 2025–26?
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Correct answer: C — ₹6.09 crore
NBA extended ₹6.09 crore to SBBs and UTBCs based on proposals for FY 2025–26.
Under which section of the Biological Diversity Act do local bodies constitute Biodiversity Management Committees?
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Correct answer: D — Section 41
BMCs are constituted by local bodies under Section 41 and maintain People's Biodiversity Registers.
Consider the following about the Biological Diversity Act, 2002: 1. It received the President's assent on 5 February 2003. 2. Its provisions on Access and Benefit Sharing came into force on 1 October 2003. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The Act got assent on 5 February 2003; administrative provisions came into force on 1 October 2003, while the Access and Benefit Sharing provisions came into force on 1 July 2004.