Section4
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Results of research not to be transferred to certain persons without approval of National Biodiversity Authority

In force From 01 Oct 2003 Act 18 of 2003 As on 16 Oct 2026

Act 18 of 2003 Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change Enacted 05 Feb 2003 In force 01 Oct 2003 Cited by 4 provisions Instruments 6

Section 4 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 deals with results of research not to be transferred to certain persons without approval of National Biodiversity Authority. No person shall, without the previous approval of the National Biodiversity Authority, transfer the results of any research relating to any biological resources occurring in, or obtained from, India for monetary consideration or otherwise to any person who is not a citizen of India or citizen of Ind The Act came into force on 01 Oct 2003.

No person shall, without the previous approval of the National Biodiversity Authority, transfer the results of any research relating to any biological resources occurring in, or obtained from, India for monetary consideration or otherwise to any person who is not a citizen of India or citizen of India who is non-resident as defined in clause (30) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) or a body corporate or organisation which is not registered or incorporated in India or which has any non-Indian participation in its share capital or management.

Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, "transfer" does not include publication of research papers or dissemination of knowledge in any seminar or workshop, if such publication is as per the guidelines issued by the Central Government.

Section 4, The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (Act 18 of 2003).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Judgments citing this section

These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.

  1. High Court 17 Oct 2024 APHC010436182024

    … on regular bail in Crime No.16 of 2024 of K.V.Palli Police Station, Annamayya Erstwhile Chittoor District, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 304(A), 447, 379 r/w 34 of the IPC and Section 20(1)(d)(i)(a) r/w 20(1)(c)ii, iii, iv, x, 36(a) r/w 32A, 29(4)(a)(i) of the AP Forest Amendment Act, 2016 and Section 55(2), 3(1), 4, 6 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 2. Sri R.Abishek Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner seeks permission of this Court to withdraw the present criminal petition. 3. Permission is accorded. 4. In the result, the criminal petition is dismissed as withdrawn. Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, …

    Read this order on eCourtsIndia

Made under this section, and citing it

6 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 4

What does Section 4 of the Biological Diversity Act deal with?

Section 4 of the Biological Diversity Act is headed "Results of research not to be transferred to certain persons without approval of National Biodiversity Authority". No person shall, without the previous approval of the National Biodiversity Authority, transfer the results of any research relating to any biological resources occurring in, or obtained from, India for monetary consideration or otherwise to any person who is not a citizen of India or citizen of Ind

How do I find court cases under Section 4 of the Biological Diversity Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Biological Diversity Act 4, section 4 Biological Diversity Act, section 4 of the Biological Diversity Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 4 of the Biological Diversity Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on Income-tax Act 2 (Definitions), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 4 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 6 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently Exemption of Crops listed in the Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) from seeking approval of NBA under Section 3 and 4 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (2014), then ABS Regulations 2025 (2025).

When did Section 4 of the Biological Diversity Act come into force?

Section 4 of the Biological Diversity Act, cited as Biological Diversity Act 4, came into force on 01 Oct 2003, having been enacted on 05 Feb 2003. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 16 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.