India has submitted its inaugural national report detailing the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing to the Convention on Biological Diversity, highlighting its leadership in equitable biodiversity governance.

India has submitted its first national report on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The submission – a step forward in international environmental diplomacy – was announced through the Press Information Bureau.

According to the PIB release, the submission underscores the country’s commitment to conserving biological diversity while ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.

This development coincides with India’s recent submission of its Seventh National Report to the CBD itself, reflecting a comprehensive approach to meeting global biodiversity targets.

India’s Leadership as a Megadiverse Nation

India, home to 7-8 per cent of the world’s recorded species despite occupying only 2.4 per cent of global land area, has long positioned itself as a responsible steward of biodiversity. Millions of livelihoods depend directly on biological resources, making conservation and sustainable use national priorities. By submitting the first national report under the Nagoya Protocol – a supplementary agreement to the CBD adopted in 2010 – India joins other State parties in providing a transparent account of how it has translated international obligations into domestic action.

The deadline for such first national reports was set for 28 February 2026 under relevant CBD decisions.

India’s report covers legislative, administrative, and policy measures that create an enabling environment for access to genetic resources while guaranteeing benefit-sharing with providers, including local communities and indigenous knowledge holders.

Core of the Nagoya Protocol and Its Relevance

The Nagoya Protocol establishes a clear legal framework for access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge, along with mechanisms for monetary and non-monetary benefit-sharing. Its three objectives – conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use, and equitable benefit-sharing – align seamlessly with India’s constitutional and policy framework. The protocol addresses historical concerns over biopiracy by requiring prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms for utilisation of resources.

For a country like India, with vast traditional knowledge systems documented in texts such as Ayurveda and rich genetic diversity in crops and medicinal plants,

The protocol offers a tool to protect sovereign rights (traditional knowledge systems and rich genetic diversity in crops and medicinal plants) over resources while promoting research and innovation. The submission of the national report allows the global community to review India’s progress on key articles, including those related to checkpoints for monitoring utilisation, capacity-building, and technology transfer.

Biological Diversity Act

At the heart of India’s implementation lies the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which predates the Nagoya Protocol but was strengthened to align with it. The three-tier institutional structure – comprising the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the apex, State Biodiversity Boards, and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level – forms a robust mechanism for regulating access and ensuring benefit-sharing.

The NBA acts as the competent national authority, granting approvals for access to genetic resources through agreements that include mutually agreed terms. Over the years, India has processed thousands of ABS applications, resulting in benefit-sharing arrangements that channel funds back into conservation and community development. Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) issued by the NBA provide legal certainty to users while documenting benefit-sharing obligations.

India’s ABS Clearing-House profile details these measures, listing competent authorities, national laws, and checkpoints. The platform also facilitates global access to India’s regulatory information, enabling researchers and industries to comply with requirements efficiently. The national report submitted now builds on this foundation, providing a narrative of implementation experiences, challenges overcome, and successes achieved since the protocol’s entry into force.

Broader Biodiversity Strategies

The submission also highlights India’s integration of ABS into broader biodiversity strategies. Benefit-sharing has supported conservation projects, community-led enterprises, and research collaborations. For instance, monetary benefits have funded local biodiversity management committees, while non-monetary benefits include technology transfer and capacity development for scientists and indigenous groups.

Challenges remain, including monitoring utilisation across complex supply chains and ensuring equitable distribution of benefits to knowledge holders. PIB says that the national report addresses these gaps, offering insights into capacity needs and areas for improvement. By publishing the report through the ABS Clearing-House and CBD platforms, India invites peer review and collaboration, contributing to the global review of the protocol’s effectiveness.

Simultaneously, the Seventh National Report to the CBD evaluates progress against the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets. Submitted ahead of schedule in late February 2026, it covers national targets aligned with the 2030 goals, including forest cover expansion, species protection, and sustainable use. Together, these two reports present a holistic picture of India’s biodiversity journey – from domestic legislation to international accountability.

Experts view the dual submissions as a reaffirmation of India’s role in multilateral environmental agreements. As a Party since the CBD’s inception and an early ratifier of the Nagoya Protocol in 2012, India continues to champion the fair and equitable sharing of benefits, particularly for developing nations. The reports are expected to inform discussions at upcoming CBD meetings, influencing global policies on digital sequence information and synthetic biology.

Baseline for Future Reporting Cycles

India’s national report on the Nagoya Protocol will serve as a baseline for future reporting cycles. It will guide refinements in India’s ABS guidelines, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and support integration with other international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

According to PIB, India’s submission marks not just compliance but a strategic advancement in biodiversity governance – the country is demonstrating that conservation and economic development can go hand in hand when guided by principles of equity and sustainability.

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