జీవ వైవిధ్య (సవరణ) బిల్లు , 2021 | 27 జూలై 2023

ప్రిలిమ్స్ కోసం: బయోలాజికల్ డైవర్సిటీ (సవరణ) బిల్లు , 2021 , బయోలాజికల్ డైవర్సిటీపై కన్వెన్ష న్ ,
నేషనల్ బయోడైవర్సిటీ అథారిటీ , మేధో సంపత్తి హక్కులు, ఆయుష్ .

మెయిన్స్ కోసం: బయోలాజికల్ డైవర్సిటీ (సవరణ) బిల్లు , 2021.

మూలం: TH

వార్తల్లో ఎందుకు?

ఇటీవల, జీవ వైవిధ్య (సవరణ) బిల్లు , 2021 లోక్‌స భలో ఆమోదించబడింది.

నేపథ్యం ఏమిటి?

బయోలాజికల్ డైవర్సిటీ చట్టం, 2002 1992 నాటి బయోలాజికల్ డైవర్సిటీపై కన్వెన్ష న్ (CBD) కింద
భారతదేశం యొక్క కట్టు బాట్ల కు ప్రతిస్పందనగా రూపొందించబడింది .
దేశాలు తమ జీవ వనరులను నియంత్రించే హక్కును కలిగి ఉన్నాయని CBD గుర్తించింది మరియు
జాతీయ చట్టం ఆధారంగా ఈ వనరులకు ప్రా ప్యతను నియంత్రించడానికి వేదికను నిర్దేశిస్తుంది .
జీవ వనరులను మరియు సంబంధిత సాంప్రదాయ జ్ఞా నాన్ని సమర్థవంతంగా నిర్వహించడానికి, చట్టం మూడు-
స్థా యి నిర్మాణాన్ని ఏర్పాటు చేస్తుంది:
జాతీయ స్థా యిలో నేషనల్ బయోడైవర్సిటీ అథారిటీ (NBA).
రాష్ట్ర స్థా యిలో రాష్ట్ర జీవవైవిధ్య బోర్డు లు (SBBs).
స్థా నిక స్థా యిలో జీవవైవిధ్య నిర్వహణ కమిటీలు (BMCలు).
2002 చట్టా న్ని సవరించడానికి డిసెంబర్ 2021లో జీవ వైవిధ్య (సవరణ) బిల్లు , 2021ని లోక్‌స భలో
ప్రవేశపెట్టా రు .
The amendments are designed to align the Act with current needs and
developments, while supporting sustainable biodiversity conservation and
utilization in India.
What are the Key Provisions of the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill,
2021?

The Biological Amendments to the

Provisions
Diversity Act, 2002 2002 Act
Access to Biological The Act requires anyone The Bill modifies the
Resources seeking to access classification of entities
biological resources or and activities that
associated knowledge require intimation,
in India to obtain prior while also introducing
approval or inform the exemptions to certain
regulatory authority cases.
about their intent.

Intellectual Property Concerning Intellectual The Bill suggests that

Rights Property Rights (IPR), approval will be
the Act currently required before the
demands NBA approval actual grant of the IPR,
before applying for IPR not during the
related to biological application process.
resources from India.
Exempting AYUSH It seeks to exempt
Practitioners registered AYUSH
medical practitioners
and people accessing
codified traditional
knowledge, among
others, from giving prior
intimation to State
biodiversity boards for
accessing biological
resources for certain
purposes.
Benefit Sharing The Act mandates The Bill removes the
benefit sharing, which applicability of benefit
involves sharing both sharing requirements
monetary and non- from research, bio-
monetary benefits with survey, and bio-
those who conserve utilisation.
biodiversity or hold
traditional knowledge
associated with it.

NBA determines the

terms of benefit
sharing when granting
approvals for various
activities.
Criminal Penalties The Act imposes The Bill, on the other
criminal penalties, hand, decriminalizes
 including imprisonment, these offenses and
for offenses such as not introduces fines ranging
obtaining approval or from one lakh to fifty
intimation for specific lakh rupees instead.
activities.

What are the Concerns Related to the Biological Diversity (Amendment)

Bill, 2021?

Favoring Industry over Conservation:

Critics argue that the amendments seem to prioritize industry interests rather than
focusing on biodiversity conservation, which goes against the spirit of the CBD.
The CBD emphasizes sharing benefits from biodiversity use with the
communities that have conserved it for generations.
The amendments may weaken the framework for benefit-sharing and
community involvement.
Decriminalization of Violations:
The Bill proposes to decriminalize violations, removing the power of the NBA to
file FIRs against parties that do not comply with regulations.
This may weaken the enforcement of biodiversity protection laws and hinder
efforts to deter illegal activities.
Exemption for Domestic Companies:
Only "foreign-controlled companies" would need to seek permission for using
biodiversity resources. This could potentially create loopholes for domestic
companies with foreign shareholding to bypass the approval process, raising
concerns about unchecked exploitation of biodiversity.
Limited Benefit Sharing:
The inclusion of "codified traditional knowledge" exempts certain users, including
practitioners of Indian systems of medicine, from the need to share benefits.
This may lead to profiteering domestic companies avoiding their responsibility to
share profits with the communities holding traditional knowledge.
Ignoring Conservation Issues:
Critics argue that the amendments do not adequately address the challenges
faced by biodiversity conservation in India.
The Bill appears to focus more on reducing regulations and facilitating business
interests, raising concerns about the potential negative impact on biodiversity and
traditional knowledge holders.

Way Forward

There is a need to strike a balance between promoting economic development and

ensuring the sustainable conservation of India's biodiversity.
There is a need to engage in transparent and inclusive consultations with various
stakeholders, including local communities, indigenous people, conservationists, scientists,
and industry representatives.
This will help ensure that all perspectives are considered in the decision-making process
and that the amendments align with the principles of biodiversity conservation.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. Consider the following statements: (2023)

1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the
objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.
2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining
access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access
of biological resources within its jurisdiction.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Exp:

Biodiversity Governance in India: India’s Biological Diversity Act 2002 (BD Act), is in
close synergy with the Nagoya Protocol and aims to implement provisions of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The Nagoya Protocol sought to ensure commercial and research utilisation of
genetic resources led to sharing its benefits with the government and the
community that conserved such resources.
Under Section 41(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, every local body in the
State shall constitute a Biodiversity Management Committee within its area of
jurisdiction. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The main function of the BMC is to prepare People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) in
consultation with local people. The BMC shall be responsible for ensuring the
protection of the knowledge recorded in PBR, especially to regulate its access to
outside persons and agencies.
In addition to preparation of the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR), the BMCs in
their respective jurisdiction shall also be responsible for the following :-
Conservation, sustainable use and access and benefit sharing of biological
resources.
Regulation of access to the biological resources and/ or associated Traditional
Knowledge, for commercial and research purposes.

Mains

Q. How is the Government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from

patenting by pharmaceutical companies? (2019)