The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released 8.22 crore rupees to three research institutions and 33 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that the disbursement reflects India’s commitment to ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of the country’s biological resources.

The Ministry informed that out of the total amount, 2.47 crore rupees has been released to research institutions that conserved and shared the rice varieties with the company. ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, has received the largest share of 2.43 crore rupees.