On 1 April 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reported a significant increase in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) applications linked to India’s biological resources, reflecting the positive impact of the regulatory reforms introduced under the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023.
Key Takeaways:
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This increase in IPR applications linked to biological resources was recorded by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), highlighting the growing convergence of biodiversity, research, innovation, and industrial development.
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This upward trend is a direct result of the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, which has clarified and strengthened the regulatory framework governing access to biological resources and related traditional knowledge.
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Under the amended Act, Section 7 applicants have to obtain a Certificate of Registration (CoR) from the NBA before seeking any IPR based on Indian biological resources, enhancing compliance and transparency while aligning utilisation with conservation and benefit-sharing principles.
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The amended framework has streamlined procedures, resulting in a shift towards a registration-based approval system.
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April 2024—March 2025: The NBA received 857 IPR applications, of which 792 Certificates of Registration (CoRs) were issued for applications found to be in order.
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April 2025—March 2026: 1,077 IPR applications were received and 885 CoRs were issued, indicating sustained growth in filings and improved disposal efficiency by the NBA.
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The applications span diverse sectors including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, food sciences, and other knowledge-driven industries, reflecting broad adoption of the streamlined regulatory mechanism.
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By mandating prior registration and simplifying approvals, the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 promotes responsible innovation while balancing ease of research and business with conservation priorities and fair benefit sharing.
