**Summary:**
On July 24, 2025, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs addressed concerns raised in the Lok Sabha regarding the India State of Forest Report 2023, published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The report identifies several factors contributing to negative changes in forest cover, including the granting of titles under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has contested the scientific validity of this claim with the MoEFCC. The Ministry clarifies that the FRA, enacted to recognize and vest forest rights in legitimate claimants present in forest areas before December 13, 2005, does not lead to the regularization of encroachments. Instead, it acknowledges pre-existing rights exercised by eligible individuals and communities in forest areas, including national parks and sanctuaries, as per the FRA provisions. The statement was issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Delhi, referencing an unstarred question by Shri Selvaganapathi T. M. and a response from the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The ministry responsible for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.
Shri Durgadas Uikey: The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs who provided information to Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where information regarding the India State of Forest Report 2023 was presented.
Forest Survey of India: An organization under the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for publishing the India State of Forest Report.
Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry overseeing the Forest Survey of India and responsible for environmental and forestry policies.
India State of Forest Report 2023: A report published by the Forest Survey of India providing information on India's forest cover and related aspects.
Forest Rights Act 2006: A law enacted to recognize and vest forest rights in legitimate claimants present in forest areas before December 13, 2005.
Delhi: Location of Press Information Bureau(PIB)
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Implementation of Forest Rights Act
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 5:31PM by PIB Delhi
Replying to the un-starred questions of Shri Selvaganapathi T. M , the Union Minister of State for Tribal
Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed lok sabha today that the ‘India State of Forest Report’ 2023 has been
published by Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC). The report contains information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock,
carbon stock in India’s forests, instances of forest fire, Agro forestry, etc. The said report mentions that the
negative changes in the forest cover may be due to - Harvesting of short rotation plantations or other forms of
logging, Shifting cultivation practices, Human activities, such as encroachment, Natural Calamities like
storms, floods, and landslides, Titles given to beneficiaries under the Forest Rights Act (2006). In this regard,
the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has raised concerns about the scientific validity of this claim with MoEFCC.
Forest Rights Act (FRA) was enacted to recognize and vest forest rights in legitimate claimants who were
present in forest areas before December 13, 2005. Furthermore, FRA does not deal/lead to the regularization
of encroachments. Instead, it acknowledges pre-existing rights that are already being exercised by eligible
individuals and communities dwelling in forest areas, including national parks and sanctuaries as per the
provisions of the FRA.
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RN
(Release ID: 2147848)