The Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced on 10 October 2026 that it held a review conference in Kolkata on 9 October 2026 to assess the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in eight states. As of 31 August 2026, over 54 lakh claims were received nationally, with 25 lakh titles distributed and 11 lakh claims pending. The Ministry directed states to create time-bound action plans to resolve pending claims, digitize records, and recognize habitat rights for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). This affects forest-dwelling communities in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
Key points
- Nationally: 54 lakh+ claims received, 25 lakh titles distributed, 11 lakh claims pending as of 31 Aug 2026
- States must prepare action plans for timely claim disposal and strengthening Gram Sabhas
- Priority focus on digitizing records and incorporating rights into revenue and forest records
- Emphasis on recognizing Community Forest Resource Rights and PVTG Habitat Rights
- Financial support from MoTA is available for these interventions
When it applies
- Second Regional Review Conference on implementation of the FRA
- First Regional Review Conference
Who it affects
- States
Refers to
- Ministry’s advisory of 24 June 2026
- Ministry’s guidelines of 5 January 2026