**Policy Summary: Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006**
As of May 31, 2025, a total of 749,673 claims under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) are pending decisions across 20 states and 1 Union Territory. This figure includes 712,808 individual claims and 36,865 community claims. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is monitoring the implementation of the FRA, which is the responsibility of State Governments, through Monthly Progress Reports (MPRs).
The state-wise breakdown of pending claims reveals significant variation, with Telangana reporting the highest number of pending claims (329,367), followed by Odisha (120,637) and Assam (96,209). Some states, such as Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, report no pending claims. Specifically, within Bihar, no claims are pending in the Kaimur and Rohtas districts.
MoTA has directed FRA-implementing states to expedite the resolution of pending claims and address any bottlenecks at the district level. To support comprehensive implementation, MoTA is providing assistance to districts by establishing dedicated FRA cells at the state and district/sub-division levels for a period of two years under the 'Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan' (DAJGUA). To date, MoTA has approved 17 State Level FRA Cells and 416 District/Sub-divisional Level Cells.
In January 2025, MoTA held a District Collector-Deputy Magistrate (DCDM) National Conference to review FRA implementation and urged officials to dispose of all pending claims.
The 'Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan' (DAJGUA), launched on October 2, 2024, aims to improve the socioeconomic conditions of tribal communities through saturation coverage in tribal majority villages and Aspirational Districts, encompassing approximately 63,000 villages. Digitization of records and claim processes, along with the development of State and National FRA Portals, are key initiatives under DAJGUA. MoTA provides financial support to State Tribal Welfare Departments for the development and maintenance of these portals, including costs related to servers, software, hardware, security audits, and digital mapping of land records.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Union Ministry responsible for tribal affairs, referred to as MoTA, which monitors the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.
Shri Manoj Kumar: Member of Lok Sabha who asked the unstarred question related to IFR and CFR claims.
Shri Durgadas Uikey: The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs who replied to the question in Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding claims was addressed.
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006: The Act which State Governments are responsible for implementing.
Bihar: A state in India where the implementation of the Forest Rights Act is being monitored. Kaimur and Rohtas districts are located within Bihar.
'Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan' DAJGUA: An initiative by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to improve the socioeconomic condition of tribal communities. It also includes the setting up of FRA cells.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India that is listed as having pending claims under The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
IFR AND CFR CLAIMS
Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 3:04PM by PIB Delhi
Replying to an un-starred question of Shri Manoj Kumar, the Union Minister of State for Tribal
Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that as per the provisions of ‘The Scheduled
Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006’ and Rules
made thereunder, the State Governments are responsible for implementation of various provisions
of the Act and are being implemented in 20 States (including Bihar) and 1 UT. Ministry of Tribal
Affairs (MoTA) monitors the Monthly Progress Reports (MPR) submitted by States/UTs. As reported
by States/UTs, cumulatively till 31st May 2025, a total of 7,49,673 (14.53%) claims are pending for
decisions, comprising 7,12,808 individual and 36,865 community claims. The State-wise details of
Number of pending Claims as on 31.05.2025 is at Annexure. As reported by the State Government
of Bihar in their MPR, no claims have been pending in Kaimur and Rohtas districts of Bihar.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has asked all FRA implementing states to consider the pending claims
under FRA in a time bound manner and engage with districts to resolve bottlenecks, if any, in
settling of claims. Further, with a view to enhance the comprehensive implementation of the FRA,
MoTA has been providing support to the districts by setting up dedicated FRA cells at the State and
district/subdivision levels, for a period of two years. Ministry has approved 17 State Level FRA Cells
and 416 District/ Sub-divisional Level Cells in 20 States/UT under 'DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram
Utkarsh Abhiyan' (DA-JGUA). Further, MoTA held DC/DM National Conference in January, 2025
wherein the progress of FRA implementation was reviewed, and participant DM/DC were requested
to dispose of all pending FRA Claims.
Government has launched 'DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan' (DA-JGUA) on 2nd
October 2024 with the aim of improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities by
adopting saturation coverage for tribal families in tribal majority villages and Aspirational Districts
covering about 63000 villages. Digitization of record, claim process and development of State and
National FRA Portal is one of the initiatives under DA JGUA. MoTA provides financial support to the
State Tribal Welfare Department for development and maintenance of the portal (which includes
dedicated server, cost of software, hardware, security audit, digital mapping of land records and
other operational costs).
Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3004 to
be answered on07/08/2025
Statement showing number of pending claims under “The Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006” as on 31.05.2025, as
reported by the States/UT in their Monthly Progress Report (MPR):
Total Number of pending
S. No. States
Claims
1 Andhra Pradesh 1,509
2 Assam 96,209
3 Bihar 94 Chhattisgarh 6,624
5 Goa 8,818
6 Gujarat 84,387
7 Himachal Pradesh 4,704
8 Jharkhand 20,679
9 Karnataka 24,894
10 Kerala 2,930
11 Madhya Pradesh 10,229
12 Maharashtra 28,190
13 Odisha 120,637
14 Rajasthan 688
15 Tamil Nadu 5,448
16 Telangana 329,367
17 Tripura 3,841
18 Uttar Pradesh 0
19 Uttarakhand 0
20 West Bengal 364
21 Jammu & Kashmir 146
TOTAL 7,49,673
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RN/
(Release ID: 2153506)