The Ministry of Tribal Affairs addressed Unstarred Question No. 3160 on December 18, 2025, concerning the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), posed by Shri Selvaganapathi T.M.. The question asked about the NCST forming a special committee, resource constraints, and report preparation. The Minister of State for Tribal Affairs (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY) responded that the NCST has formed committees at the district level in some districts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan to expedite the disposal of Forest Rights Act (FRA) land patta claims. The budget allocation for the current financial year is ₹19.68 crore, with a staff strength of 77. The NCST has undertaken 19 research studies on the rights of Scheduled Tribes from 2022 to 2024.
Key Entities Referenced
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): A commission involved in protecting the rights of Scheduled Tribes.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The ministry responsible for matters relating to tribal affairs.
Forest Rights Act (FRA): Act related to the rights of individual and community forest land.
Maharashtra: State in which the commission constituted committees at the district level.
Madhya Pradesh: State in which the commission constituted committees at the district level.
Rajasthan: State in which the commission constituted committees at the district level.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3160
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2025
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SCHEDULED TRIBES
3160 Shri Selvaganapathi T.M.:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has formed a special committee to look
into the aspects of protecting specific rights of Scheduled Tribes, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether due to lack of funds and staff, the NCST felt handicapped to initiate studies on the assigned duties,
if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Commission is now preparing a report on the manner in which these assigned tasks can be
taken up and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a): The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has proactively constituted committees at the district
level in some of the districts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan to expedite the disposal of
individual and community Forest Rights Act (FRA) land patta claims. This has resulted in resolution of
thousands of pending land patta cases.
(b) and (c): The Budget Estimate (BE) allocation to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
(NCST) for the current financial year is ₹19.68 crore and the current staff strength is 77.
During the years 2022 to 2024, the Commission has undertaken 19 research studies on various subjects
relating to the rights of Scheduled Tribes.
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