India Submits First National Report on Nagoya Protocol

India has submitted its the first National Report on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This report was submitted on 27 February 2026 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). This Nagoya Protocol India report highlights the country’s progress in implement global biodiversity agreements between 1 November 2017 and 31 December 2025.

Nagoya Protocol India Report and Its Global Significance

The Nagoya Protocol India report has been submitted under Article 29 of the protocol.

This article which requires the countries to regularly monitor and report their progress in implementing Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) rules.

This international agreement ensure that the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge are shared fairly with the countries and communities which provide them.

India’s submission reflects the country’s commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity and also its efforts to meet Target 13 of the updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

India had earlier submitted an interim national report in November 2017.

Legal Framework for Access and Benefit Sharing in India

India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework operates under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

This act which provides the legal foundation for managing biodiversity resources in the country.

This framework is supported by the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 and the ABS Regulations, 2025 which is ensuring effective implementation at different administrative levels.

The governance system follows a three tier institutional structure that allows national, state and local participation in biodiversity management.

Three Tier Biodiversity Governance Structure in India

The Nagoya Protocol ABS framework in India operates through the well structured institutional system.

This system is designed to strengthen biodiversity governance across the country.

The structure includes national authorities, state level boards and local community institutions.

The key institutions involved in biodiversity governance include,

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the national level
• State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils at the state level
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level

India had already established more than the 2,76,653 Biodiversity Management Committees. This committee are enabling communities to participate actively in biodiversity conservation and benefit sharing mechanisms.

Financial Benefits Generated Through ABS Implementation

The implementation of the Nagoya Protocol ABS framework in India has generated the substantial financial benefits for biodiversity conservation and local communities.

Key financial outcomes include are.

• ₹216.31 crore mobilized through NBA approvals
• ₹139.69 crore distributed to benefit claimers, including local communities, farmers and traditional knowledge holders
• ₹51.96 crore generated through State Biodiversity Boards approvals

What is the Nagoya Protocol?

The Nagoya Protocol is the an international agreement which was adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity in the year 2010.

It focused on the Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their utilization (ABS).

This protocol is aims to ensure that countries and indigenous communities which are to receive fair benefits when their biological resources or traditional knowledge are used for research, pharmaceuticals, agriculture or biotechnology.

It is the also promotes sustainable biodiversity conservation while encouraging scientific innovation.

Question

Q. India submitted its first National Report on the Nagoya Protocol to which international body?

A. United Nations Environment Programme
B. Convention on Biological Diversity
C. International Union for Conservation of Nature
D. World Bank