India’s Biodiversity Inventory, 2025

India's Biodiversity Documentation Framework 

• India systematically documents its biodiversity through two premier scientific institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• India is recognised as one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.  

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) 

• Established in 1916. 
• Headquarters: Kolkata. 
• Apex institution for the survey, exploration and documentation of India's faunal (animal) diversity.
• Maintains the National Faunal Collection.

Publishes annual records of: 

• Species new to science (Species formally described for the first time based on scientific evidence. Previously unknown to science.) 
• New distributional records (A species already known globally but recorded for the first time from India or from a new geographical region within India. ) 
• Taxonomic revisions. 

Botanical Survey of India (BSI) 

• Established in 1890. 
• Headquarters: Kolkata. 
• Apex institution for the survey, identification and conservation of India's plant diversity. 
• Maintains national herbarium collections. 
• Documents new plant taxa and distributional records across the country.

Why is Biodiversity Documentation Important? 

• Establishes baseline data for conservation planning. 
• Supports preparation of Red Lists and recovery programmes. 
• Helps identify biodiversity hotspots and endemic species. 
• Facilitates implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). 
• Strengthens ecological research and environmental impact assessments. 

Highlights of Biodiversity Discoveries (2025) 

Fauna

709 additions to India's faunal database. 

• 483 species new to science. 
• 226 new distributional records.

Kerala recorded the highest number of faunal discoveries. 

Flora

353 taxa added. 

• 221 taxa new to science. 
• 132 new distributional records. 
• Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest number of plant discoveries. 
• Enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability. 
• Facilitate faster delivery of justice.