Current Affairs, 6 September 2026

Two phases and outlay

VVP-I and VVP-II together have an outlay of Rs 11,639 crore and aim to cover over 2,616 villages.

VVP-I funding type

VVP-I is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme run with the States. VVP-II is a Central Sector Scheme funded fully by the Centre.

Nodal ministry and committee

The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry. A High-Powered Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary may recommend relaxations in scheme guidelines.

Roads

All-weather roads under VVP are developed through PMGSY-IV of the Ministry of Rural Development.

VVP-I status

Approved on 15 February 2023 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for 46 blocks on the northern border.

High-Powered Committee

Chaired by the Cabinet Secretary; it can relax scheme guidelines of various ministries for border villages under VVP-II.

Nodal ministry

The scheme is run by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Don’t confuse with VVP vs BADP: The Border Area Development Programme (1986-87) covers areas within 10 km of the border and is in its sunset phase. VVP targets selected border villages with saturation of all schemes.

Don’t confuse with VVP-I vs VVP-II: VVP-I is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the northern border (Rs 4,800 crore). VVP-II is a Central Sector Scheme for the other land borders (Rs 6,839 crore).

Don’t confuse with Centrally Sponsored vs Central Sector: In a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, costs are shared with States. A Central Sector Scheme is fully funded by the Centre. VVP-I is the former, VVP-II the latter.

Don’t confuse with VVP vs Border Area Development Programme: BADP is an older MHA scheme for border-area infrastructure in border States. VVP targets comprehensive development of selected villages.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2024Mains GS3 · Q19Examine border conflicts and development under BADP and BIM Scheme
2. 2026Mains GS3 · Q10Discuss BADP and army civic actions to win locals in Ladakh
3. 2020Mains GS3 · Q10Steps to deny militants local support and manage locals' perception in border areas

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Event and place

International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 was celebrated at Panchkula, Haryana, with a national workshop themed 'From Crisis to Recovery'.

Jatayu Centre, Pinjore

It is a joint initiative of the Haryana Forest Department and BNHS. It breeds White-rumped, Long-billed and Slender-billed Vultures.

2025–26 numbers

JCBC housed 356 vultures and bred 35 chicks in 2025–26.

Cause of decline

The sharp decline since the 1990s was mainly due to a disrupted food chain and painkillers given to animals, which vultures then consumed.

Don’t confuse with Vulture Safe Zone vs protected area: Vulture Safe Zones are landscapes made free of toxic veterinary drugs like diclofenac. They are not legally notified protected areas.

Don’t confuse with Conservation breeding vs reintroduction: Conservation breeding raises birds in captivity. Reintroduction is the later release of those birds into the wild.

Species and protected areas: 12 Prelims questions since 2013; they test legal status, location and the year of designation.

1. 2015Mains GS2 · Q10How to strengthen NGOs' role in environmental protection and their constraints
2. 2024Mains GS4 · Q2How to halt human-driven extinction and restore society-environment equilibrium
3. 2012Prelims Q100Cause of vulture decline in Indian countryside: cattle drug, invasive species, or disease

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Amount and recipients

Rs 1.19 crore went to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one UT Biodiversity Council.

Basis of allocation

Because resources were bought through markets or traders, individual benefit claimers could not be identified. Shares were set in proportion to estimated cultivation areas.

Use of funds

Funds must be used only for activities under Section 32(2) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Legal basis and seat

NBA was set up under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and is headquartered in Chennai.

COP 17

COP 17 of the CBD is scheduled for 19-30 October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.

Top sector

The agri-seed sector gave the largest share, Rs 7.16 crore, followed by food and beverages.

Cumulative since 2008

NBA has realised about Rs 278 crore through ABS and disbursed over Rs 200 crore for conservation and benefit claimers.

Disbursal route

Funds go through State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils to support People's Biodiversity Registers and Biodiversity Management Committees.

Legal basis and HQ

NBA is a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, headquartered in Chennai.

Amended framework

The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 have strengthened the framework under the 2002 Act. States are urged to align their rules with it.

ABS funds shared

The NBA has shared over ₹200 crore of ABS funds with farmers, communities, BMCs, SBBs, UTBCs and research institutions.

Local bodies

The Minister called for making the more than 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees functional.

International reporting

India submitted its 7th National Report to the CBD and its 1st National Report on the Nagoya Protocol.

NBA basis and seat

The NBA is a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, headquartered in Chennai.

Amount sanctioned

₹8.23 crore was sanctioned to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 5 UT Biodiversity Councils, from bitter gourd, okra, chilli and onion.

Distribution basis

The resources came from the open market or traders, so no individual providers could be traced. Shares go to States by area under cultivation, as published by the Agriculture Ministry.

Legal basis

The NBA was established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and is headquartered in Chennai. It is a statutory, autonomous body.

Three-tier structure

The Act sets up the NBA at the national level, State Biodiversity Boards in States, and Biodiversity Management Committees at local body level.

Okra component

The largest part is for okra: Rs. 3.51 crore released to 32 SBBs and UTBCs, from money paid by Nunhems India.

Distribution modality

Since the resources came from markets and traders, the share is split among States and UTs where the resource is cultivated, as recommended by an Expert Committee and approved by the Authority.

Cumulative total

Total ABS disbursed by the NBA has crossed Rs. 191 crore.

Amount and source

Rs. 15.52 crore came from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, which developed ten mustard hybrids using Indian biological resources.

Intermediary rule

Where the resource came through intermediaries, ABS is shared among the SBBs/UTBCs of the areas where it is cultivated.

Unidentified source of access

Where resources were accessed via markets, traders or intermediaries, the source could not be identified, so the NBA used benefit-sharing modalities prepared by an Expert Committee.

Basis of distribution

Money was shared among SBBs/UTBCs of States where the crops are grown, using cultivation-area data of the Agriculture Ministry.

Local structures

State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees are set up under the Act; the NBA is at the national level.

Payer

The money came from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, an international seed company that used Indian rice varieties to develop hybrids.

State share basis

Rs 5.75 crore went to 33 State Biodiversity Boards and UT Councils, allocated by each State's rice-growing area. Uttar Pradesh got the most.

Global link

The initiative contributes to Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, on fair and equitable benefit sharing.

Headquarters

The NBA is headquartered in Chennai.

Where the money goes

If the geographical source of a resource can be established, the ABS amount goes to the State Biodiversity Boards. If not, it stays in the National Biodiversity Fund under Section 27 of the Act.

Basis of State shares

State allocation is proportional to each State's area under cotton, using AICRP (ICAR) data.

Total released

Total ABS funds released by the NBA have reached Rs 152.24 crore.

Effect of notification

Notification regulates or prohibits collection of the species and provides for its rehabilitation and conservation. The Centre may delegate the power to States.

Numbers notified

159 plant and 173 animal species notified as threatened, across 17 States and 3 UTs.

Who the SOP helps

It assists State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils, which recommend species to the State Government for notification.

Link to ABS Regulations

The 2025 ABS Regulations treat benefit-sharing differently where the resource belongs to a species notified as threatened under Section 38.

Money realized

NBA has realized over Rs 266 crore through ABS since 2008, including Rs 21.26 crore in FY 2025-26.

Transfer rule

Under the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, NBA transfers 85-90 per cent of the ABS amount to State Biodiversity Boards for disbursal.

Reach

Benefits reached over 10,500 Biodiversity Management Committees across 23 States and 4 Union Territories.

Leadership

Dr P. L. Gautam, a former head of the NBA and PPVFRA, chairs the committee. The PPVFRA Chairperson is Co-Chair.

Age of the committee

It has been an advisory body of the NBA since 2005 and is reconstituted periodically.

Scope of work

It examines seed sector issues, reviews guidelines for international collaborative research, and recommends measures to conserve threatened native crop varieties and livestock breeds.

International link

The committee gives inputs on India's engagement with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).

NBA headquarters

The NBA is headquartered in Chennai.

People's Biodiversity Register

A BMC prepares the PBR in consultation with local people. It records resources, habitats, landraces and traditional knowledge.

National Biodiversity Authority Fund

The NBAF is a statutory fund created under section 27 of the Act. It supports benefit sharing and conservation.

Section 39 repositories

The Central Government can designate institutions as repositories for biological resources. Twenty institutions have been designated so far.

Nagoya Protocol

It is a legally binding supplementary agreement to the CBD, adopted in October 2010 at COP-10 in Nagoya, on fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

Prior registration for IPR

Applicants covered under Section 7 must get a Certificate of Registration from the NBA before seeking IPR, including patents, based on Indian biological resources.

2025-26 numbers

The NBA received 1,077 IPR applications and issued 885 CoRs between April 2025 and March 2026.

2024-25 numbers

Around 857 IPR applications were received and 792 CoRs issued from April 2024 to March 2025.

International basis

The Act implements the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992; the Nagoya Protocol (2010) deals with access and benefit sharing.

Who got the money

Biodiversity Management Committees in 24 districts across nine States and one Union Territory received the current release. One Haryana dairy farmer was also paid for supplying Murrah buffalo.

Cumulative ABS

Total ABS disbursements at the national level have crossed ₹145 crore, about USD 16 million.

Resources behind the funds

The funds came from commercial use of microorganisms, marine microalgae and seaweed, among others, plus plants such as Tulsi, Moringa, neem and ashwagandha.

International commitments

The NBA implements India's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, and contributes to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Who receives benefits

Benefits go to institutes, local communities, farmers and Biodiversity Management Committees that provided the parental lines of seeds.

Payout

NBA released Rs 45.05 lakh through State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils to benefit claimers.

Resources used

Benefits came from insects, soil and water microorganisms and cultivated Red Sanders.

International links

NBA advances India's obligations under the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol on ABS.

Amount released

The NBA released Rs 17 lakh to the Mumbai civic body's Biodiversity Management Committee, routed through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.

Source of benefit

The money comes from the commercial use of soil micro-organisms of the Bacillus genus in probiotic products.

National total

Cumulative ABS disbursements have crossed Rs 144.37 crore, about USD 16 million.

Maharashtra's position

Maharashtra is the second major beneficiary State, next to Andhra Pradesh, whose figure is driven by Red Sanders.

Global frameworks

The outcomes are linked to Targets 13 and 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Latest payout

The NBA released ₹45 lakh to Andhra Pradesh farmers through the State Biodiversity Board.

Statutory status and seat

The NBA is a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, with headquarters in Chennai.

Red Sanders share

Over ₹104 crore of the total has gone to Andhra Pradesh for Red Sanders conservation, protection and benefit claimers.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs SBB vs BMC: NBA is the national body. State Biodiversity Boards work at State level. Biodiversity Management Committees are local bodies under the same Act.

Don’t confuse with CBD vs Nagoya Protocol: The CBD is the parent treaty. The Nagoya Protocol is its supplementary agreement on access and fair benefit sharing.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs State Biodiversity Board: NBA is the national regulator at Chennai. State Biodiversity Boards regulate use by Indians at the state level and channel benefits.

Don’t confuse with Nagoya Protocol vs Cartagena Protocol: Nagoya concerns access and benefit sharing of genetic resources. Cartagena concerns the biosafety of living modified organisms.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs National Green Tribunal: The NBA is a regulator under the Biological Diversity Act. The NGT is a judicial body under the NGT Act, 2010.

Don’t confuse with Nagoya Protocol vs Kunming-Montreal Framework: Nagoya is a legal protocol on ABS under the CBD; the Kunming-Montreal Framework is a 2022 global target set, with Target 13 on benefit sharing.

Don’t confuse with Section 38 vs IUCN Red List: Section 38 notification is a legal act under Indian law that restricts collection. The IUCN Red List is a global assessment with no legal force in India.

Don’t confuse with Section 38 vs Wild Life (Protection) Act Schedules: Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act covers threatened species and regulates collection; the Wild Life (Protection) Act uses Schedules to protect wild animals and plants.

Don’t confuse with Rs 266 crore vs Rs 145 crore: Rs 266 crore is realized from users; Rs 145 crore is what has been disbursed to beneficiaries so far.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs PPVFRA: The NBA works under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and regulates access and benefit sharing. The PPVFRA works under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 and registers plant varieties and protects farmers' rights.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs State Biodiversity Boards: The NBA is the national body. State Biodiversity Boards regulate certain uses within their states, and Biodiversity Management Committees work at the local level.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs State Biodiversity Boards vs BMCs: The NBA is national, the SBBs work at state level, and BMCs are local bodies that prepare PBRs.

Don’t confuse with Convention on Biological Diversity vs Nagoya Protocol: The CBD is the parent treaty of 1992. The Nagoya Protocol is its supplementary agreement dealing specifically with access and fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs SBB: NBA is the national regulator. State Biodiversity Boards regulate at State level, and BMCs work at local body level.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs Biodiversity Management Committees: Biodiversity Management Committees are local-level bodies that document local biodiversity. The NBA and State Boards sit above them.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

1. 2018Mains GS3 · Q17Biodiversity variation in India and how Biological Diversity Act helps conservation
2. 2026Mains GS3 · Q8Kunming-Montreal framework aims, and India's commitments and initiatives
3. 2019Mains GS3 · Q15How government protects traditional medicine knowledge from pharmaceutical patenting
4. 2024Mains GS3 · Q5IPR on life materials and reasons for poor commercialization of Indian patents
5. 2015Mains GS3 · Q14TKDL medicinal database: pros and cons of open-source public release
6. 2023Prelims Q79Whether Biodiversity Management Committees key to Nagoya Protocol and can levy access fees
7. 2012Prelims Q3How NBA protects agriculture: biopiracy checks, monitoring research, IPR approval
8. 2011Prelims Q79What IUCN Red Data Books contain: threatened species lists

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Duration

The roadmap runs for three years, from July 2026 to July 2029, with quarterly reviews and outcome-based accountability.

Four pillars

Intelligence and operation-based enforcement; precursor and synthetic drugs control; demand and harm reduction; capacity building and coordination.

State task forces

The Centre will give 7 per cent central assistance to set up equipped Anti-Narcotics Task Forces in every state by March 2027.

De-addiction centres

The number of de-addiction centres will be tripled to 1,751.

NCORD

A four-tier NCORD coordination mechanism was created in 2019, with a Joint Coordination Committee.

Helpline and database

The 1933 Manas helpline supports rehabilitation of addicted youth, and the NIDAAN portal holds a national database of narcotics offenders.

Origin

It began as a pilot from Kashi the previous year. Over 125 spiritual organisations and NGOs backed it under the Kashi Declaration.

Duration and format

The campaign runs a 100-week roadmap. Each Sunday will have activities in art, culture, sports and meditation.

Participants

The online gathering included students, NSS members and My Bharat volunteers.

Role of colleges

The PM asked college and university professors to discuss the dangers of drugs in regular teaching and to start anti-intoxication movements on campuses.

Event

The 10th Apex-Level Meeting of NCORD is set for 26 June 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, and is organised by the NCB.

Three pillars

The Vision Document addresses demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction.

Disposal drive

An Online Drug Disposal Fortnight Campaign aims to destroy about 2,09,500 kg of drugs worth ₹6,000 crore, as per law, by Central and State agencies.

New NCB offices

New NCB Zonal offices in Jammu and Guwahati will be inaugurated.

Don’t confuse with Death Triangle vs Death Crescent: The Death Triangle (Golden Triangle) covers Myanmar, Laos and Thailand in the east. The Death Crescent (Golden Crescent) covers Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran in the west.

Don’t confuse with 1933 Manas vs 1930: 1933 is the Manas helpline for drug rehabilitation. 1930 is the cyber crime helpline.

Don’t confuse with NCORD vs NCB: NCORD is the coordination mechanism among agencies. The NCB is the enforcement agency under the Home Ministry.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2018Mains GS3 · Q20Linkages of drug trafficking with gunrunning, money laundering, human trafficking; counter-measures
2. 2024Mains GS3 · Q9How narco-terrorism threatens the country; suitable measures to counter it
3. 2019Mains GS4 · Q11Case study on rampant narcotics menace, patronage by politicians and police
4. 2024Prelims Q34Which listed activities involve identifying narcotics on passengers at airports

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Latest appointments

Bhagwat Prasad Makwana is the new Chairperson and Kaishab Bihari the Vice-Chairperson. Three Members were also named.

Term of appointments

The appointments run only for the remaining tenure of the present Commission, up to 31 March 2028.

Parent ministry

The Commission is administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which made these appointments.

Link to the 2013 manual scavenging law

The new Chairperson earlier served on the Central Monitoring Committee under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

Legal basis

The Commission was created by the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993. It is a statutory body, not a constitutional one.

Don’t confuse with NCSK vs National Commission for Scheduled Castes: The NCSC is a constitutional body under Article 338. The NCSK is a statutory body for safai karamcharis.

Don’t confuse with Safai karamchari vs manual scavenger: The 2013 Act defines and bans manual scavenging, meaning manual cleaning of insanitary latrines, sewers or septic tanks. Safai karamcharis are a wider group of sanitation workers.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

1. 2026Mains GS2 · Q5Do NCSC and NCST have enough enforcement powers? Suggest improvements.
2. 2022Mains GS2 · Q5Discuss NCBC's role after becoming a constitutional body from statutory.
3. 2018Mains GS2 · Q16Should multiple vulnerable-section commissions merge into one umbrella Human Rights Commission?
4. 2016Prelims Q16What is the Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan campaign aimed at achieving?
5. 2023Prelims Q35Which listed Indian commissions or bodies are statutory in nature?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.