The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released over fifteen crore rupees in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) proceeds from Mustard Genetic Resources. The amount will flow to twenty-six State Biodiversity Boards and three Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, with the ABS share calculated based on the area under mustard cultivation in each State. 

 

The release is part of the NBA’s ongoing effort under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to ensure that when India’s genetic resources create commercial value, a fair share flows back to conservation and to the States and communities that sustain that diversity. 

 

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said that in the last twelve months, NBA has released over one hundred and sixteen crore rupees to beneficiaries across the country.