How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological... | UPSC 2018 GS3 Q17

QUESTION 17

GS3

15 marks

How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act (2002) helpful in the conservation of flora and fauna?

WRITE IN

11 min

250 words

What the examiner wants

Describe how biodiversity varies across India and how the Biological Diversity Act protects it.

ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.

1Variation: 10 biogeographic zones; hotspots (Himalaya, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, Sundaland); endemism high in Western Ghats and North East; deserts and coasts differ≈50 words
2Act structure: NBA, State Biodiversity Boards, Biodiversity Management Committees≈50 words
3Tools: People's Biodiversity Registers, access and benefit sharing, prior approval for IPR on Indian resources, heritage sites≈50 words
4Gaps: weak BMCs, low benefit-sharing, 2023 amendment concerns≈50 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Patterns of variationAct's three tiersConservation toolsLimitsConclusion

Ignoring the 'how does it vary' part
Treating the Act like the Wildlife Protection Act (it deals with access and benefit sharing)

DataIndia has about 2.4% of world land area but 7-8% of recorded species, and 4 of 36 global hotspots.MoEFCC / Conservation International
CaseThe US turmeric patent (1995) was revoked in 1997 after CSIR challenged it with traditional knowledge evidence.US Patent Office, 1997
LawBiological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 decriminalised offences and eased rules for AYUSH and codified traditional knowledge.Parliament, 2023

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