(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, there shall be established by the Central Government for the purposes of this Act, a body to be called the National Biodiversity Authority.
     (2) The National Biodiversity Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
     (3) The head office of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be at Chennai and the National Biodiversity Authority may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish offices at other places in India.
     (4) The National Biodiversity Authority shall consist of the following members, namely:--
         (a) a Chairperson, who shall be an eminent person having adequate knowledge and experience in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and in matters relating to equitable sharing of benefits, to be appointed by the Central Government;
         (b) three ex officio members to be appointed by the Central Government, one representing the Ministry dealing with Tribal Affairs and two representing the Ministry dealing with Environment and Forests of whom one shall be the Additional Director General of Forests or the Director General of Forests;
         (c) seven ex officio members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively the Ministries of the Central Government dealing with--
             (i) Agricultural Research and Education;
             (ii) Biotechnology;
             (iii) Ocean Development;
             (iv) Agriculture and Cooperation;
             (v) Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy;
             (vi) Science and Technology;
             (vii) Scientific and Industrial Research;
     (d) five non-official members to be appointed from amongst specialists and scientists having special knowledge of, or experience in, matters relating to conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, representatives of industry, conservers, creators and knowledge-holders of biological resources.