**Policy Summary: Relaxation of Conditions Under the Forest Rights Act (FRA)**
This policy statement, issued by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on August 7, 2025, clarifies the Ministry's position regarding potential relaxation of eligibility criteria under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006. Specifically, the Ministry is *not* considering any proposals to relax the condition requiring 75 years of continuous residence for Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers to be granted rights under the Act.
The statement was issued in response to an unstarred question posed by Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre in Lok Sabha. The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs confirmed that no such proposal is under consideration.
Furthermore, the Ministry has not received any reports from State Governments or Union Territory Administrations suggesting a need to amend the rules to reduce the 75-year requirement or to allow alternative forms of proof. The Ministry reiterates that State Governments are responsible for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and its associated rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for tribal affairs.
Forest Rights Act, 2006: An Indian law concerning the rights of forest-dwelling communities to land and resources.
Scheduled Tribes: A group of indigenous people recognised by the Constitution of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre: An individual who asked an unstarred question in Lok Sabha.
State Governments: The governments of the individual states within India, responsible for implementing the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs: A minister in the Government of India responsible for tribal affairs.
The Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006: Full name of the act concerning the rights of forest-dwelling communities.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
RELAXATION IN CONDITIONS OF FRA
Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 3:06PM by PIB Delhi
No such proposal is under consideration in the Minister of Tribal Affairs 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. This was stated by the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs in Lok Sabha today
while replying to an un-starred question Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre.
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.
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.
*****
RN/
(Release ID: 2153510)