The study, led by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), under the UNDP’s BIOFIN initiative and supported through a grant from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), assesses the impact of public policies and programmes on biodiversity in the agriculture sector in India. It categorizes these policies into four classes- negative, positive, neutral, and mixed impacts on biodiversity- based on targets set in the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). 

The study specifically supports Target 18 of the KM-GBF, to reduce harmful subsidies and promote those that help nature. Covering national trends with focussed insights from Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana, the study highlights opportunities to repurpose policies from biodiversity-negative to biodiversity-positive incentives. Achieving this target requires collaborative effort—bringing together the ministries of agriculture, environment, finance, and rural development, along with the farmers, businesses, researchers, and civil society. Each has a vital role to play. This is not just about conserving biodiversity, but also about securing our economies, ensuring food and nutrition security, and protecting our shared future. 

UNDP is proud to support the Government of India and its partners in this mission. With strategic policies and better use of public funds, we can protect biodiversity and support strong, secure livelihoods for the future generations.