Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to questions regarding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, as of August 18, 2025. It addresses the status of forest rights claims, reasons for delays, the role of tribal Gram Sabhas, prevention of evictions, violations of the FRA, and training for forest officials. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal ministry monitoring the implementation, with state governments responsible for the Act's provisions. Data on claims is current as of May 31, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Implementation Responsibility and Monitoring:**
* State Governments are responsible for implementing the FRA provisions.
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal ministry for monitoring implementation.
* The filing, processing of claims, and distribution of titles is a continuous process.
* **Claims and Approvals:**
* Detailed status of claims is maintained by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, based on Monthly Progress Reports from States/UTs.
* Lack of awareness among claimants is a challenge.
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs encourages States to expedite claim processing through consultations/workshops.
* **Decision Authority:**
* The District Level Committee holds the final decision-making authority on claims, as per Section 6(6) of the FRA, 2006.
* **Eviction Prevention:**
* Section 4(5) of the FRA, 2006, protects forest dwellers from eviction until the recognition and verification process is complete.
* **FRA Compliance:**
* Grievances and representations are forwarded to concerned States/UTs for action.
* State Governments are urged to abide by the FRA provisions and ensure timely claim disposal.
* **Training and Awareness:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs advises States, District Administrations, and State Forest Departments to conduct awareness campaigns on FRA implementation among all stakeholders.
* **Claims Data (as of May 31, 2025):**
* Total Claims Received: 5,123,104 (Individual: 4,911,495; Community: 211,609)
* Total Titles Distributed: 2,511,375 (Individual: 2,389,670; Community: 121,705)
* Total Claims Rejected: 1,862,056
* Total Claims Pending: 749,673
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing FRA provisions, processing claims, and distributing titles. They must also address grievances and ensure compliance with the FRA.
* *Action Required:* Fast-track the processing and disposal of pending claims through consultation/workshops and abide by the FRA provisions.
* **Ministry of Tribal Affairs:**
* *Impact:* Nodal ministry for monitoring FRA implementation, maintaining claim status, and addressing challenges like lack of awareness.
* *Action Required:* Encourage states to fast-track claim processing, conduct awareness campaigns, and ensure timely disposal of claims.
* **District Level Committees:**
* *Impact:* Hold the final decision-making authority on claims.
* *Action Required:* Ensure fair and timely decisions on claims in accordance with FRA guidelines.
* **Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers:**
* *Impact:* Protected from eviction during the claim recognition and verification process; entitled to rights recognition under FRA.
* *Action Required:* File claims for forest rights, participate in verification processes, and raise awareness of their rights.
* **Local Forest Officials:**
* *Impact:* Need to implement FRA provisions on the ground and ensure compliance.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training on FRA compliance and conflict resolution, conduct awareness campaigns, and fairly implement the FRA.
Key Entities Referenced
Forest Rights Act FRA, 2006: A law in India that grants legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities, regarding access to forest resources.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and forestry.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The nodal Ministry for monitoring the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006.
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006: The full legal title of the Forest Rights Act, the primary legislation discussed in the policy document.
Gram Sabhas: Village assemblies, particularly those in tribal areas, that play a role in the decision-making process related to forest rights claims.
District Level Committee: The authority responsible for making the final decision on forest rights claims under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, mentioned in the annexure with data on claims received and distributed under the Forest Rights Act.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India, mentioned in the annexure with data on claims received and distributed under the Forest Rights Act.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4113
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Implementation of Forest Rights Act
4113. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government maintains updated records of individual and community forest
rights claims under Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006;
(b) the number of pending claims along with the reasons for delay in approval, State-wise;
(c) whether tribal Gram Sabhas are empowered to make final decisions on claims;
(d) the steps taken to prevent eviction of traditional forest dwellers without due process;
(e) whether any States have been found violating FRA provisions, if so, the details thereof;
and
(f) the plans to train local forest officials on FRA compliance and conflict resolution?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) As per the provisions of ‘The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006’ and Rules there under, the
State Governments are responsible for implementation of various provisions of
the Act. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal Ministry for monitoring the
implementation of the Act.
The filing and processing of claims and distribution of titles is a continuous
process. The detailed status of these claims are maintained by the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs, based on the Monthly Progress Reports received from the States /
UTs. The detailed status as on 30.05.2025 is placed at Annexure-I.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs have informed that the lack of awareness among
claimants is a challenge in the implementation of the Act. In this regard, the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been encouraging States to fast-track the processing
and disposal of pending claims through consultation/meetings/workshop with
States/UTs.(c) As stipulated in Section 6(6) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the final decision on claims
lies with the District Level Committee.
(d) As per provisions of Section 4(5) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional
Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, no member of a forest
dwelling Scheduled Tribe or other traditional forest dwellers shall be evicted or
removed from the forest land under occupation till the recognition and verification
procedure is complete.
(e) Since the State/ UTs are responsible for implementation of the Act, the Grievances
and representations received in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are forwarded to the
concerned State / UTs. Further, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been urging all
State Governments to abide by the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and ensure
timely disposal of the claims.
(f) Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been advising States, District Administrations and
State Forest Departments to conduct awareness campaign among all stakeholders
on the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
***Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (b) Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4113 due
for answer on 18.08.2025 regarding ‘Implementation of Forest Rights Act’.
Statement of Claims received and Distribution of title deeds, rejected claims and 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:
Number of Claims received upto Number of Titles Distributed Number Total
S. 31.05.2025 upto 31.05.2025 of No. of
States
No. Claims Claims
Individual Community Total Individual Community Total
Rejected Pending
Andhra
1 285,098 3,294 288,392 226,651 1,822 228,473 58,410 1,509
Pradesh
2 Assam 148,965 6,046 155,011 57,325 1,477 58,802 NA/NR 96,209
3 Bihar 4,696 0 4,696 191 0 191 4,496 9
4 Chhattisgarh 890,220 57,259 947,479 481,432 52,636 534,068 406,787 6,624
5 Goa 9,757 379 10,136 856 15 871 447 8,818
6 Gujarat 183,055 7,187 190,242 98,732 4,792 103,524 2,331 84,387
Himachal
7 4,883 683 5,566 662 146 808 54 4,704
Pradesh
8 Jharkhand 107,032 3,724 110,756 59,866 2,104 61,970 28,107 20,679
9 Karnataka 288,549 5,940 294,489 14,981 1,345 16,326 253,269 24,894
10 Kerala 44,455 1,014 45,469 29,422 282 29,704 12,835 2,930
Madhya
11 585,326 42,187 627,513 266,901 27,976 294,877 322,407 10,229
Pradesh
12 Maharashtra 397,897 11,259 409,156 199,667 8,668 208,335 172,631 28,190
13 Odisha 701,148 35,024 736,172 462,067 8,832 470,899 144,636 120,637
14 Rajasthan 113,162 5,213 118,375 49,215 2,551 51,766 65,921 688
15 Tamil Nadu 33,119 1,548 34,667 15,442 1,066 16,508 12,711 5,448
16 Telangana 651,822 3,427 655,249 230,735 721 231,456 94,426 329,367
17 Tripura 200,557 164 200,721 127,931 101 128,032 68,848 3,841
Uttar
18 92,972 1,194 94,166 22,537 893 23,430 70,736 0
Pradesh
19 Uttarakhand 3,587 3,091 6,678 184 1 185 6,493 0
West
20 131,962 10,119 142,081 44,444 686 45,130 96,587 364
Bengal
Jammu &
21 33,233 12,857 46,090 429 5,591 6,020 39,924 146
Kashmir
TOTAL 4,911,495 211,609 5,123,104 2,389,670 121,705 2,511,375 1,862,056 749,673