The National Biodiversity Authority recently designated two additional institutions as national repositories under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This initiative, which brings the total number of such repositories in India to 20, is designed to strengthen the systematic documentation and safe custody of the country’s vast biological resources. The new additions include specialized facilities in Kochi and Pune, focusing on deep-sea fauna and microbial diversity respectively.
Understanding the Role of National Repositories
National repositories are specialized institutions empowered by the central government to act as legal guardians of India’s biological heritage. Their primary mandate is to ensure the safe custody and scientific preservation of biological materials, including voucher specimens of newly discovered species. When a researcher identifies a new taxon within the country, it is legally mandatory to deposit type specimens with these designated centers.
These repositories play a critical role in maintaining a centralized database of the nation’s biological wealth. By providing a secure environment for the long-term storage of specimens, they facilitate advanced research and provide a foundation for verifying new scientific discoveries. Furthermore, they serve as essential pillars for the implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanisms, ensuring that the use of India’s biological resources is properly tracked and regulated.
New Additions to the National Network of Repositories
The expansion of the national repository network includes two elite research institutions that bring specialized expertise in marine and microbial sciences. These additions reflect a strategic push to map and preserve biological resources from diverse and often inaccessible environments.
Referral Centre Bhavasagara: A Specialized Facility for Deep-Sea Fauna
The Referral Centre Bhavasagara, located at the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) in Kochi, has been designated as the national repository for deep-sea fauna. Operative under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, this center focuses on the documentation of India’s marine biological heritage. It currently houses over 3,500 taxonomically identified specimens, including a wide variety of deep-sea invertebrates and fishes.
The facility serves as a centralized hub for ocean scientists, providing access to geo-referenced voucher specimens and associated DNA data. By preserving type specimens of new deep-sea species discovered within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, the center supports the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and bolsters India’s growing blue economy.
Agharkar Research Institute: Safekeeping India’s Microbial Heritage
The MACS Collection of Microorganisms and the National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI) at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune have also joined the national network. ARI is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST). These specialized collections are renowned for maintaining rare anaerobic and extremophilic microorganisms that thrive in harsh environments.
While the microbial collection supports research in bioenergy and industrial waste treatment, the fungal culture collection focuses on the conservation of Indian fungal germplasm. This repository is vital for bioprospecting initiatives in agriculture and healthcare, ensuring that India’s unique microbial and fungal diversity is authenticated and preserved for future generations.
Legal Framework Under the Biological Diversity Act
The designation of these repositories is governed by Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This legislation empowers the Central Government, in consultation with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), to identify institutions that can serve as custodians for different categories of biological resources. The NBA, established in 2003 and headquartered in Chennai, is the nodal statutory body responsible for implementing the Act’s core objectives: conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing.
Under this legal framework, the State maintains ultimate ownership over the biological resources deposited in these repositories. The Act mandates that any person or entity discovering a new taxon must notify the relevant repository and deposit the “type specimens,” such as holotypes or isotypes. This process creates a transparent and legally binding record of India’s biodiversity, which is essential for protecting national interests in the international scientific and commercial arena.
Significance for Scientific Research and Bioprospecting
The expansion of the national repository network to 20 institutions is a significant step towards achieving comprehensive bioconservation. By including specialized facilities like CMLRE and ARI Pune, the government is addressing critical gaps in the documentation of “hidden” biodiversity, including resources found in the deep oceans or at the microscopic level. These resources often hold the key to breakthrough innovations in medicine, agriculture, and environmental management.
From a strategic perspective, these repositories are vital for Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). When foreign entities or domestic companies seek to utilize India’s biological resources for commercial purposes, the repositories provide the necessary traceability. This ensures that the benefits derived from these resources are shared fairly with the provider communities or the state, preventing biopiracy and strengthening India’s sovereign rights over its biological wealth.
| Repository Type | Representative Institution | Biological Resource Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-Sea Fauna | CMLRE, Kochi | Marine invertebrates and vertebrates |
| Microbial/Fungal | ARI, Pune | Anaerobic microbes and Indian fungi |
| Medicinal Plants | FRLHT, Bengaluru | Traditional medicinal plant diversity |
| Forest Resources | ICFRE, Dehradun | Forestry and timber specimens |
| Crop Diversity | NBPGR, New Delhi | Plant genetic resources and seeds |
The integration of these institutions into a unified national framework enhances India’s capacity for bioprospecting, which is the search for economically valuable biological materials. As India moves towards a multi-trillion-dollar economy, the sustainable and documented use of these resources will be a cornerstone of its scientific and economic growth.
Key Takeaways
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) designated two new national repositories in April 2026, bringing the total count to 20.
- The Referral Centre Bhavasagara at the CMLRE in Kochi is now the designated repository for deep-sea fauna.
- The MACS Collection and National Fungal Culture Collection at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune were designated for microbial and fungal diversity.
- Designated repositories are established under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- The NBA was established in 2003 as a statutory body and is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- It is legally mandatory to deposit type specimens (vouchers) of all newly discovered taxa with the relevant national repository.
