The National Biodiversity Authority on 8 January 2026 released ₹68 lakh to Biodiversity Management Committees in Wada tehsil of Palghar district and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, reinforcing the effective implementation of India’s Access and Benefit Sharing framework.
The disbursement arises from the access and commercial utilisation of soil microorganisms, specifically bacteria from the Bacillus genus, which were used to develop innovative probiotic products. The release exemplifies how benefits derived from India’s rich microbial biodiversity are being shared fairly and equitably with local communities and institutional custodians of biological resources.
The transaction highlights the growing significance of microorganisms within the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism, with nearly 15 percent of all applications involving microbial resources. These applications span critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and biotechnology, demonstrating the expanding economic and scientific value of microbial biodiversity.
Under the framework, benefits are channelled to farmers, local communities, Biodiversity Management Committees and other stakeholders, while simultaneously incentivising conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. The latest disbursement also reflects the transition of benefit sharing from an abstract regulatory concept to tangible community level outcomes.
With this release, the National Biodiversity Authority has disbursed approximately ₹8 crore to more than 200 Biodiversity Management Committees and seven institutions across Maharashtra. At the national level, cumulative Access and Benefit Sharing disbursements have now crossed ₹144.20 crore, equivalent to about 16 million US dollars.
The milestone underscores India’s leadership in building a robust and inclusive biodiversity governance framework that balances innovation and economic growth with ecological responsibility and community empowerment.
