**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's policy and actions regarding the preservation of sacred groves, specifically focusing on Orans in Rajasthan. It addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3478, answered on August 11, 2025, by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh.
The government acknowledges sacred groves as community-conserved lands with religious and cultural significance, playing a vital role in biodiversity conservation. The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, allows state governments and union territories to declare private or community land as community reserves to protect fauna, flora, and traditional conservation practices. Furthermore, Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (amended in 2023), enables state governments, in consultation with local bodies, to notify areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS). The Ministry supports the protection and conservation of sacred groves through community participation and ecodevelopment initiatives.
In response to a Supreme Court order dated December 18, 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has formed an expert committee to review the progress of identification, ground survey, satellite mapping, and classification of sacred groves, including Orans, Devvans, and Rundhs, within the state of Rajasthan.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for environmental protection and conservation.
SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH: Member of Lok Sabha who posed the unstarred question regarding preservation of Orans.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change who provided the answer to the question.
Orans: Sacred groves in Rajasthan, specifically mentioned as a subject of protection.
Rajasthan: A state in India where the protection of Orans is a key concern.
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: An act empowering State Governments and Union Territories to declare community reserves.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: An act amended in 2023 related to notifying areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
Supreme Court: The highest judicial body in India, which issued an order regarding the identification and classification of sacred groves.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3478
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Preservation of Orans
3478. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has any information on the sacred groves that exist in the
country and whether there is any criteria to determine the same;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps taken for the preservation of such groves and encouragement of forest worship
by the local communities;
(d) the steps taken to formalise such communities and to bring such areas under the purview
of various biodiversity related laws; and
(e) the steps taken for the protection of the Orans in Rajasthan?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (d) Sacred groves are community conserved land parcels, which usually have a
religious and cultural significance and contribute in conserving local biodiversity.
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers State Government and Union
Territory for declaration of any private or community land, as a community
reserve, for protecting fauna, flora and traditional or cultural conservation values
and practices. Additionally, in accordance with Section 37 of Biological Diversity
Act, 2002 (as amended in 2023) the State Governments in consultation with local
bodies may notify such areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage
Sites (BHS).
The Ministry supports protection and conservation of sacred groves with a strong
focus on community participation and eco-development initiatives.
(e) In compliance of Hon'ble Supreme Court order dated 18-12-2024, an expert
committee has been constituted by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change to review the progress of identification, ground survey, satellite mapping,
classification of sacred groves such as Orans, Dev-vans, Rundhs or by any other
name in the State of Rajasthan.
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