The Ministry of Earth Sciences on April 30, 2026, issued the Draft Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction Bill, 2026.
The following has been stated:-
•The Ministry of Earth Sciences has proposed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Bill, 2026, to regulate conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
•The Bill aims to implement India’s obligations under the BBNJ Agreement under UNCLOS, which India signed in September 2024.
•It introduces rules for access, utilisation, benefit-sharing, and intellectual property related to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information.
•The draft provides for environmental impact assessments, marine protected areas, emergency measures, and regulation of activities affecting high seas biodiversity.
•A dedicated BBNJ Authority, Registry, and Fund are proposed for approvals, monitoring, compliance, data management, and grievance redressal through the National Green Tribunal.
Comments from the public are invited by June 02, 2026.
The detailed notification is given in the document below.
