UPSC Prelims 2023 – Question 79

Q79. Consider the following statements: 

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? 

1. 1 only 

2. 2 only 

3. Both 1 and 2 

4. Neither 1 nor 2  

Correct Answer: Option (c) 

• In India, the 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 utilization of genetic resources leading 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. 
• Some of the major functions of the Biodiversity Management Committee are: 
• To prepare the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) in consultation with local people. 
• Ensuring the protection of the knowledge recorded in PBR, especially to regulate its access to outside persons and agencies. 
• 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. 
• May levy charges by way of collection fees from any person for accessing or collecting any biological resource for commercial purposes from areas falling within its territorial jurisdiction. 
• Hence, statement 2 is correct. 

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