UPSC Prelims 2012 · Question 3 of 98

UPSC Prelims 2012 question on National Biodiversity Authority

How does National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help in protecting the Indian Agriculture?

1. NBA checks biopiracy and protects indigenous and traditional genetic resources.

2. NBA directly monitors and supervises scientific research on genetic modification of crop plants.

3. Application for Intellectual Property Rights related to genetic/biological resources cannot be made without approval of NBA.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
Show answer

Answer: C. 1 and 3 only

Verdict

Correct Answer: 1 and 3 only

Statements 1 and 3 are correct because NBA prevents biopiracy and regulates IPR linked to Indian biological resources, while GM crop regulation is handled by GEAC, not NBA.

Analysis

The National Biodiversity Authority is a statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It works for conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of biological resources and fair benefit-sharing.

Statement by statement

1. Checks biopiracy and protects genetic resources — Correct

NBA regulates access to India’s biological resources and associated traditional knowledge, especially by foreign individuals and entities.

This helps prevent biopiracy and ensures benefit-sharing with local communities, farmers and knowledge holders.

2. Monitoring genetic modification research on crop plants — Incorrect

NBA does not directly monitor or supervise genetic modification research on crop plants.

This function is mainly performed by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

3. Approval for intellectual property rights based on Indian biological resources — Correct

Prior approval of NBA is required before applying for intellectual property rights based on biological resources or traditional knowledge obtained from India.

This ensures documentation of the source and fair sharing of benefits arising from commercial use.

Extra UPSC info

* NBA was established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

* Its headquarters is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

* India follows a three-tier biodiversity governance structure: NBA at national level, State Biodiversity Boards at state level and Biodiversity Management Committees at local level.

* Biodiversity Management Committees prepare People’s Biodiversity Registers to document local biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

* NBA helps India fulfil obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol.

* Do not confuse NBA with GEAC; NBA deals with biodiversity access and benefit-sharing, while GEAC deals with genetically engineered organisms.

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