law: The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  Chapter IV Functions
  
  and Powers of the National Biodiversity Authority
  18. Functions and
  
  powers of National Biodiversity Authority.-
  1.  
  
    It
  
  shall be the duty of the National Biodiversity Authority to regulate activities
  
  referred to in sections 3, 4 and 6 and by regulations issue guidelines for
  
  access to biological resources and for fair and equitable benefit sharing.
  2.  
  
    The
  
  National Biodiversity Authority may grant approval for undertaking any activity
  
  referred to in sections 3, 4 and 6.
  3.  
  
    The
  
  National Biodiversity Authority may-
  a.   advise the Central
  
  Government on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable
  
  use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the
  
  utilisation of biological resources;
  b.   advise the State
  
  Governments in the selection of areas of biodiversity importance to be notified
  
  under sub-section (1) of section 37 as heritage sites and measures for the
  
  management of such heritage sites;
  c.   perform such other
  
  functions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
  1.  
  
  
  
  
  2.  
  
  
  3.  
  
  
  4.  
  
    The
  
  National Biodiversity Authority may, on behalf of the Central Government, take
  
  any measures necessary to oppose the grant of intellectual property rights in
  
  any country outside India on any biological resource obtained from India or
  
  knowledge associated with such biological resource which is derived from India.