Why in news
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs convened the first Regional Review Conference in Bengaluru to evaluate Forest Rights Act implementation across southern states.
- National implementation data highlighted over 10 lakh pending Individual Forest Rights claims and the need to expedite Habitat Rights for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
Key terms
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
A sub-category of tribal groups characterized by declining population, pre-agricultural technology, and low literacy levels.
Habitat Rights
Rights granted under FRA over traditional territory and socio-cultural spaces of PVTGs.
What is the Forest Rights Act, 2006?
- Enacted in 2006 and administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to recognize pre-existing rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers.
- Recognizes Individual Forest Rights (IFR) for habitation/cultivation and Community Forest Rights (CFR) over forest resources, along with Habitat Rights for PVTGs.
- Mandates Gram Sabhas as the competent authority to initiate the process for determining nature and extent of rights.
Current Implementation Status
- Over 54 lakh Individual Forest Rights claims received nationally, with 25.42 lakh titles distributed covering nearly 238 lakh acres.
- Over 10 lakh claims remain pending, and 19,845 Community Forest Rights titles have been formally recognized.
- Focus has shifted toward time-bound disposal of pending claims, digitizing land records, and securing Habitat Rights of PVTGs.
Why it matters
- Ensures tenure security, livelihood preservation, and ecological governance for forest communities.
- Integration of recognized forest rights with revenue land records prevents eviction disputes and enables access to welfare convergence schemes.
Prelims facts
- Gram Sabha is the statutory authority to initiate rights determination under FRA 2006.
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the central nodal ministry for FRA, not the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Mains discussion
- Evaluates the gap between land claim submission and formal entitlement recognition in forest governance.
- Examines how integration of FRA titles with revenue land records strengthens tribal financial inclusion.
Source: PIB English
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2019 · Q51 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: 1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory. 2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status. 3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far. 4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs. Which of the statements given above are correct? -
2018 · Q98 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements: 1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. 2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights. 3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? -
2021 · Q84 · General Studies · 2 marks
At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006? -
2019 · Q55 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements: 1. As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas. 2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce. 3. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forests Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? -
2026 · Q49 · General Studies · 2 marks
Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct? 1. It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits. 2. Its implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D institutes across India. Select the answer using the code given below: