SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has distributed 6,020 forest rights titles under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, including 429 Individual Forest Rights (IFR) titles and 5,591 Community Forest Rights (CFR) titles, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Replying to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 710 on July 23, raised by Darshan Singh Choudhary, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey said that, as per data reported by States and Union Territories up to June 30, 2026, a total of 25,42,359 forest rights titles have been distributed across the country. These comprise 24,18,197 Individual Forest Rights titles and 1,24,162 Community Forest Rights titles.
The parliamentary reply shows that Jammu and Kashmir accounts for 6,020 titles, with the Union Territory recording a significantly higher number of Community Forest Rights (5,591) than Individual Forest Rights (429).
Nationally, the Ministry said that during the three-year period from June 30, 2023 to June 30, 2026, 8,46,958 claims were filed under the Act. Of these, 2,30,318 claims were approved and titles distributed, 11,671 claims were rejected, while 6,04,969 claims remain pending for decision.
The Minister said implementation of the Forest Rights Act rests with the respective State Governments, while the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, as the nodal ministry, continues to urge States and Union Territories to ensure that all eligible claimants receive the rights due to them under the law.
According to the reply, the Act recognises the rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers over forest resources used for livelihood, habitation and socio-cultural needs. Eligible beneficiaries receive heritable forest rights, although these rights cannot be transferred or alienated.
The Ministry further informed Parliament that Rule 16 of the FRA requires State Governments to ensure that recognised rights holders are linked with government schemes relating to land development, irrigation, agriculture, housing, basic amenities and livelihood support.
The Centre said financial assistance is also being provided to States under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA) to strengthen Gram Sabhas and Community Forest Resource Management Committees. In addition, FRA title holders are being supported through convergence with schemes of the Departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, with beneficiary contributions capped at 10 per cent, wherever applicable, to improve participation.
The reply added that eligible FRA title holders are also covered under the PM-KISAN scheme, while the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is coordinating with other ministries and departments to ensure that the benefits of various welfare schemes reach recognised forest rights holders.
