**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Tribal Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3031, answered on August 7, 2025, regarding potential relaxation of the 75-year continuous residence condition stipulated in the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 for Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs states that it is not considering any proposal to relax the 75-year residence condition. The Ministry has not received reports from State Governments/Union Territories indicating practical difficulties in providing documentary evidence of the 75-year residence requirement. Furthermore, there is no ongoing consideration to amend the rules to reduce the 75-year requirement or to accept alternative forms of proof.
The response indicates that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has not consulted any expert committee or State Forest Departments on this matter. The Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durga Das Uikey, provided the answer.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes.
Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre: Questioner in the Lok Sabha regarding relaxation in conditions of FRA.
Forest Rights Act, 2006: Also known as The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, it grants legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities.
Scheduled Tribes: Officially recognized tribes in India, often with distinct cultural identities and geographical locations.
Other Traditional Forest Dwellers: Communities who have resided in and depended on forests for generations but do not fall under the Scheduled Tribes category.
SHRI DURGA DAS UIKEY: Minister of State for Tribal Affairs.
State Governments: The governments of the individual states within India, responsible for implementing the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
UT Administrations: The administrations of the Union Territories within India, responsible for implementing the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3031
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 07/08/2025
RELAXATION IN CONDITIONS OF FRA
3031. Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre:
Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to relax the condition of “75 years of continuous residence”
in the rights given to Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers under the Forest Rights
Act, 2006;
(b) whether it is a fact that it is practically difficult to provide documentary evidence of the 75
years residence condition and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is considering amending the rules to reduce the requirement of 75
years or to accept alternative proofs and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has consulted any expert committee or State Forest Departments on
this matter; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGA DAS UIKEY)
(a): No such proposal is under consideration in Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
(b): 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. Ministry has not received any
such report from State Governments/UT Administrations.
(c) to (e): No proposal to amend the rules for reducing the 75-year requirement or to allow
alternative forms of proof is under consideration in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
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