26. Grants or loans by the Central Government.—The Central Government may, after due
appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, pay to the National Biodiversity Authority by
way of grants or loans such sums of money as the Central Government may think fit for being utilised for
the purposes of this Act.
27. Constitution of National Biodiversity Fund—(1) There shall be constituted a Fund to be called
the National Biodiversity Fund and there shall be credited thereto—
(a) any grants and loans made to the National Biodiversity Authority under section 26;
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[(b) all sums including charges and benefit sharing amount received by the National Biodiversity
Authority;]
(c) all sums received by the National Biodiversity Authority from such other sources as may be
decided upon by the Central Government.
(2) The Fund shall be 4
[utilised] for—
(a) channeling benefits to the benefit claimers;
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[(b) conservation, promotion and sustainable use of biological resources;
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 2023, s. 22, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 1-4-2024).
2. Subs. by s. 22, ibid., for sub-sections (2) and (3) (w.e.f. 1-4-2024).
3. Subs. by s. 23, ibid., for clause (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-2024).
4. Subs. by s. 23, ibid., for “applied” (w.e.f. 1-4-2024).
5. Subs. by s. 23, ibid., for clauses (b) and (c) (w.e.f. 1-4-2024).
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(c) socio-economic development of areas from where such biological resources or traditional
knowledge associated thereto have been accessed in consultation with the Biodiversity Management
Committee:
Provided that when it is not possible to identify the area from where the biological resources or
traditional knowledge associated thereto have been accessed, the fund shall be utilised for socio-economic
development of the area where such biological resources occur;
(d) activities to meet the purposes of the Act.]
28. Annual report of National Biodiversity Authority.—The National Biodiversity Authority shall
prepare, in such form and at such time each financial year as may be prescribed, its annual report, giving a
full account of its activities during the previous financial year and furnish, to the Central Government,
before such date as may be prescribed, its audited copy of accounts together with auditors’ report thereon.
29. Budget, accounts and audit.—(1) The National Biodiversity Authority shall prepare a budget,
maintain proper accounts and other relevant records (including the accounts and other relevant records of
the National Biodiversity Fund) and prepare an annual statement of account in such form as may be
prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(2) The accounts of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be audited by the Comptroller and
Auditor-General of India at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in
connection with such audit shall be payable by the National Biodiversity Authority to the Comptroller and
Auditor-General of India.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any other person appointed by him in
connection with the audit of the accounts of the National Biodiversity Authority shall have the same
rights and privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General
generally has in connection with the audit of the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the
right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers
and to inspect any of the offices of the National Biodiversity Authority.
(4) The accounts of the National Biodiversity Authority as certified by the Comptroller and
Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit
report there on shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government.
30. Annual report to be laid before parliament.—The Central Government shall cause the annual
report and auditor's report to be laid, as soon as may be after they are received, before each House of
Parliament.