India's National Biodiversity Authority approves new governance measures at 77th meeting

India's National Biodiversity Authority approved policy and institutional measures strengthening access and benefit-sharing, conservation and compliance under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 at its 77th meeting on 23 March 2026 in Chennai. The changes raise biodiversity-risk and natural-capital expectations for Indian sectors dependent on biological resources.

At its 77th meeting on 23 March 2026 in Chennai, announced in April 2026, India's National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) approved a series of policy and institutional measures to strengthen biodiversity governance under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The decisions focus on improving implementation of access and benefit-sharing (ABS), biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilisation of biological resources. The NBA emphasised strengthening institutional coordination across national, state and local levels and integrating biodiversity considerations into development planning and industrial activities, aligning with India's national biodiversity strategy and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The measures affect entities accessing biological resources and associated traditional knowledge, including bio-based industries, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural and research organisations subject to ABS approvals. The NBA aims to streamline approval processes, improve compliance monitoring, and ensure benefits are shared fairly with local communities. Strengthened biodiversity data systems and documentation will enhance traceability across the value chain of biological resources. Companies dependent on ecosystem services face heightened expectations around biodiversity-risk management, natural-capital accounting and equitable benefit-sharing as commercial utilisation of biological resources increases.

Affected entities should prepare for streamlined but more closely monitored ABS approval processes and improved compliance requirements for accessing biological resources. Organisations should strengthen biodiversity data management and documentation to support traceability and evidence-based reporting. Research institutions and industry stakeholders should pursue the collaboration, innovation and capacity-building the NBA is promoting in biodiversity-related sectors. ESG teams in resource-dependent sectors should integrate biodiversity-risk assessment and natural-capital accounting, and monitor further NBA guidance as the apex regulator tightens oversight in India's evolving bioeconomy landscape.

Key figure — Governing statute: Biological Diversity Act, 2002