The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, provided financial assistance totalling Rs 60.9 million (mn) to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) in fiscal year 2025–26 to strengthen decentralised biodiversity governance. The assistance was announced to support institutional and programme components at state and local levels with a shift from mere constitution of committees towards functionalisation and quality enhancement of documentation. Detailed allocations reported by the NBA amount to Rs 60.996742 million (mn).

The support aims to reinforce statutory institutions, improve the quality of People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) and accelerate implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanisms at the grassroots level. Priority areas include strengthening and functionalisation of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), capacity building and awareness generation, technical guidance through thematic expert committees, peer learning visits and digital strengthening through website development. The assistance was provided under the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, which mandates conservation, sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing arising from biological resources.

State wise disbursements varied in accordance with proposals received and compliance with NBA guidelines, covering both general grants and specific administration funds. Component wise, the largest single allocation was for outsourcing staff at Rs 27.225322 mn, followed by allocations for International Day for Biodiversity events at Rs 12.612539 mn and preparation and updation of PBRs at Rs eight point one one nine mn. Other components supported included seed funding for BMC constitution, capacity building programmes, awareness exhibitions, expert committees and peer to peer learning.

The country has achieved a substantial milestone with the constitution of 276,653 BMCs and preparation of 272,648 PBRs, representing one of the largest participatory biodiversity documentation exercises globally. By strengthening institutions at the local level and linking conservation with community welfare, the NBA intends to advance an inclusive and participatory model of biodiversity governance where ecological sustainability and livelihood security go hand in hand. Continued financial and technical support is expected to consolidate these gains and improve grassroots implementation of biodiversity law.