FOREST RIGHTS ACT

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, briefed the Rajya Sabha that under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA), State Governments and UT Administrations implement the Act while the Ministry of Tribal Affairs compiles a Monthly Progress Report (MPR). For FY 2023‑24 to FY 2025‑26 (01‑04‑2023 to 31‑03‑2026), 8,56,159 claims were filed (8,21,908 individual and 34,251 community), 2,34,352 claims were approved/titles distributed (2,18,899 individual and 15,453 community), and 14,462 claims were rejected (13,756 individual and 706 community). The Act and its rules do not prescribe a time‑limit for claim disposal, and no central data on disposal timelines is maintained. Rejection reasons cited include land not occupied before 13 Dec 2005, duplicate claims, claims on non‑forest land, and lack of evidence.