Consider the following statements: 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol. 2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer: C. Both statements about Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are correct. The Nagoya Protocol (2014) is an international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources. Statement 1 is CORRECT. In India, BMCs constituted at local (Panchayat/Municipality) level under Section 41 of the Biological Diversity Act 2002 are key institutions for implementing the Nagoya Protocol. BMCs maintain People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), document traditional knowledge, and serve as the local interface for ABS decisions. Statement 2 is CORRECT. Section 41(3) of the Biological Diversity Act explicitly empowers BMCs to LEVY CHARGES (collection fees) by way of access fees for any person accessing biological resources within their jurisdiction. The collected fees support local biodiversity conservation. This is part of the local-level benefit-sharing mechanism. Source: Biological Diversity Act 2002 / National Biodiversity Authority guidelines / Nagoya Protocol.