Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), has submitted India’s First National Report (NR1) on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It was submitted in accordance with Article 29 (Monitoring and Reporting) of the Protocol.
Coverage of the Report
- Time Period: It covers the period from 1 November 2017 to 31 December 2025
- It highlights India’s progress in implementing the Nagoya Protocol while contributing to Target 13 of India’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
- Note: India had earlier submitted its Interim National Report in 2017.
India’s ABS framework
- It operates under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, supported by the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 and the ABS Regulations, 2025, through a three-tier institutional structure comprising
- National Biodiversity Authority
- State Biodiversity Boards/Union Territory Biodiversity Councils
- Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level.
- More than 2,76,653 BMCs have been established across the country, strengthening community participation in biodiversity governance and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
ABS Approvals and Compliance
During reporting period 2017–2025:
- Total ABS approvals issued by India: 12,830
- NBA approvals: 5,913 (for foreign entities and high-level activities)
- SBB/UTBC approvals: 6,917 (for Indian entities)
- Activities Covered: Research and bio-survey, commercial utilisation, transfer of research results, intellectual property rights (IPR) and third-party transfers.
- International Leadership: India has issued 3,556 Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs)
- This accounts for over 60% of global IRCCs, showcasing India’s leadership in transparency and compliance with global biodiversity norms.
Economic and Livelihood Benefits
Monetary Benefits
- ₹216.31 crore (USD 28.04 million) mobilised through NBA approvals, of which
- ₹139.69 crore disbursed to local communities, farmers, traditional knowledge holders and biodiversity Management Committees
- ₹51.96 (USD 6.56 million) crore generated through SBB/UTBC approvals for commercial utilisation by Indian entities under Section 7 of the Act
Non-Monetary Benefits
- 395 NBA approvals incorporated non-monetary benefits, including capacity building, training, technology transfer and collaborative research.
Monitoring of Foreign Biological Resources
- In line with the Nagoya Protocol, India also monitors the utilisation of foreign-sourced biological resources and associated traditional knowledge
- 41 declarations were received by NBA in Form 10 for use of foreign bioresources as required under Rules 18 of the BD rules, 2024 and Section 36A of the BD Act, 2002.
Capacity Building and Awareness
- India has also undertaken extensive awareness and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen ABS implementation.
- A total of 2,56,393 individuals were trained through 3,724 workshops and programmes, alongside over 600 capacity-building initiatives nationwide.