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Environment & Ecology

National Biodiversity Authority issues SOP for notifying threatened species

5 min readSource: PIBArticle 8 of 16

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the notification of threatened species under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, in a step to strengthen biodiversity conservation. The SOP gives State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils a uniform, transparent and scientifically robust framework to identify, assess and recommend species as threatened, which the respective State Government can then notify. Section 38 empowers the government to restrict or prohibit the collection and trade of species that are on the verge of extinction, making the standardised process important for timely and consistent protection.

Key Facts & Details

9 points
  • 1
    The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) issued an SOP for notification of threatened species.
  • 2
    It is framed under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
  • 3
    The SOP guides State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils to identify and assess species.
  • 4
    It provides a uniform, transparent and scientific framework for recommending threatened species.
  • 5
    Section 38 lets the government restrict or prohibit collection and trade of species facing extinction.
  • 6
    The move aims to make species protection consistent and timely across States.

Deep Dive

  • +
    The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 was enacted to implement India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
  • +
    The NBA is a statutory, autonomous body headquartered in Chennai.
  • +
    A standardised SOP reduces ambiguity in how States classify and protect threatened species.
Q

Exam Focus

Under which section of the Biological Diversity Act did the NBA issue an SOP for notifying threatened species?

Related Topics

National Biodiversity AuthorityBiological Diversity ActThreatened speciesConservation

Exam Relevance & Angle

Biodiversity governance and statutory bodies are tested in environment and polity GA. The body (NBA), the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Section 38 are precise exam hooks.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POIBPS RRB OfficerRBI Grade BNABARD Grade ASSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCLIC AAOUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 was enacted to give effect to India's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and to conserve biological diversity, ensure sustainable use, and provide for fair sharing of benefits from biological resources. It established a three-tier structure: the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the centre (headquartered in Chennai), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) in states, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level. Section 38 of the Act empowers the central government, in consultation with state governments, to notify species that are on the verge of extinction (or likely to become so) and to prohibit or regulate their collection and trade.

Related GK Concepts

Must Know
National Biodiversity AuthorityBiological Diversity Act 2002Convention on Biological DiversityState Biodiversity BoardsThreatened species

Test Yourself

1 / 2

The NBA's June 2026 SOP for notifying threatened species is framed under which section of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002?

Source

PIB

This topic is important for:

SBI PO

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IBPS PO

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RBI Grade B

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National Biodiversity Authority issues SOP for notifying threatened species — Current Affairs 2026-06-26