🔆 FOREST RIGHTS ACT AT 20: 10.45 LAKH CLAIMS PENDING

🔆 Recent Developments
🟢 The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) held its final regional review conference in Srinagar on 23 October 2026.
🟢 Key concerns: 10.45 lakh pending claims, high rejection rates and slow recognition of Community Forest Resource Rights.

🔆 About the Forest Rights Act, 2006
🟢 Full name: Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
🟢 Came into force on 31 December 2007.
🟢 Eligibility: Forest-dwelling STs meeting the statutory conditions and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) with 75 years of forest residence.
🟢 Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

🔆 Key Rights Under FRA
🟢 Individual Forest Rights (IFR): Recognition of eligible occupation and cultivation, up to 4 hectares.
🟢 Community Rights: Minor forest produce, grazing and other traditional uses.
🟢 Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR): Community protection and management of customary forests.
🟢 Habitat Rights: For eligible Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
🟢 Section 4(5): Protection against eviction until recognition and verification are complete.

🔆 Implementation Status
🟢 Approximately 54 lakh claims received nationally by 31 August 2026.
🟢 43.56 lakh claims disposed of; 25.42 lakh titles issued.
🟢 18.13 lakh claims rejected, highlighting concerns over due process and reasoned orders.
🟢 Habitat rights recognised for only 11 of 75 PVTGs.

🔆 Challenges & Way Forward
🟢 Improve scrutiny of rejected claims and reduce pendency.
🟢 Strengthen Gram Sabha-led community forest management.
🟢 Align Community Forest Resource Management Plans with Forest Department plans.
🟢 Improve access to land records, livelihood schemes and technical support.

🔆 MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
📍 The Forest Rights Act, 2006, has recognised individual rights more readily than community and habitat rights. Examine the reasons and suggest measures to democratise forest governance. (15 marks)

#Governance