- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed Rs 1.19 Crore to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one UT Biodiversity Council. - The funds are distributed under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. - ABS mechanism ensures equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge with local communities and creators. - Strengthens decentralized environmental governance through State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). - **Biological Diversity Act 2002:** India's principal legislation for conserving biodiversity, ensuring sustainable use of its components, and providing for fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated knowledge. - **National Biodiversity Authority (NBA):** A statutory autonomous body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to regulate access to India's biological resources and advise the Central Government on biodiversity conservation. - **Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing:** An international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity that provides a transparent legal framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. - **State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs):** Bodies established by state governments under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to regulate commercial access to biological resources within their respective states and promote local conservation. - **UT Biodiversity Council:** Statutory bodies constituted for Union Territories under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, responsible for biodiversity conservation and regulating access and benefit sharing within UT jurisdictions. **Introduction** The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 1.19 Crore to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and a UT Biodiversity Council under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This financial devolution aims to promote grassroots conservation, sustainable use of biological resources, and equitable sharing of benefits with local communities and traditional knowledge holders. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed Rs 1.19 Crore to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one UT Biodiversity Council. - The funds are distributed under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. - ABS mechanism ensures equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge with local communities and creators. - Strengthens decentralized environmental governance through State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **Biological Diversity Act 2002:** India's principal legislation for conserving biodiversity, ensuring sustainable use of its components, and providing for fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated knowledge. - **National Biodiversity Authority (NBA):** A statutory autonomous body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to regulate access to India's biological resources and advise the Central Government on biodiversity conservation. - **Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing:** An international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity that provides a transparent legal framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. - **State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs):** Bodies established by state governments under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to regulate commercial access to biological resources within their respective states and promote local conservation. - **UT Biodiversity Council:** Statutory bodies constituted for Union Territories under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, responsible for biodiversity conservation and regulating access and benefit sharing within UT jurisdictions.