VAID'S ICS – Best UPSC Anthropology Coaching in Delhi Since 1985

Comprehensive Classroom Course · Admissions openRegister now
+91 93113 37737
  • +91-93113 37737, +91-99999 46748
  • 73(FF), Old Rajender Nagar Market, Delhi - 110060
  • MON to SUN 9.00 am - 6.00 pm
Facebook Youtube Instagram
Menu
Enquire Now
Home/Anthropology/Mains PYQ/2016/Paper II/Tribal Problems & Displacement
UPSC MainsAnthropology Optional Paper II 2016 15 Marks Model Answer Available

Scheduled Tribes and the Forest Rights Act, 2006 — 2016 Paper II

Question · 2016 · Paper II · 15 Marks

Explain the difficulties experienced by scheduled tribes with regard to implementation of the 'Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006'.

Model Answer

VAID ICS

Approach

Demand of Question: Identify implementation difficulties of the FRA from the claimant’s perspective, connect them to institutional and evidentiary design, and show why community rights and Gram Sabha authority remain central to meaningful implementation.

Structuring the Response: State purpose and rights -> procedural/evidence barriers -> institutional conflicts -> community/PVTG/gender issues -> conservation-development tensions -> current implementation and corrective principles.

Key Dimensions to Cover: FRA 2006; Rules 2008/2012; IFR, CFR and habitat rights; OTFD 75-year evidence; Gram Sabha, FRC, SDLC/DLC; rejection procedure; forest-revenue conflict; women’s joint title; MoTA monthly reports; Xaxa Committee.

Model Answer

Introduction

The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 seeks to correct the ‘historical injustice’ of non-recognized forest rights. It recognizes individual, community forest-resource and habitat rights, but implementation remains uneven.

Body

Evidence and documentation: Claimants often depend on customary possession and oral evidence rather than formal records. Despite flexible evidentiary rules, officials may demand documents; the 75-year requirement for Other Traditional Forest Dwellers is especially difficult.

Administrative conflict: Forest, revenue and tribal departments often use different records and priorities. Gram Sabhas may receive weak technical support, while claims can be rejected without clear reasons or meaningful appeal.

Under-recognition of community rights: Implementation has often focused more heavily on individual forest rights than Community Forest Resource rights under Section 3(1)(i). This narrows the Act from a governance reform to a land-title programme and weakens customary institutions managing forests, grazing and minor forest produce.

PVTG, pastoral and women’s rights: Habitat rights of PVTGs and rights of mobile pastoralists require landscape-scale evidence that conventional village maps poorly capture. Women are legally entitled to joint titles, yet participation in claim preparation and forest governance can remain unequal.

Conservation and development pressures: Protected-area relocation, mining, infrastructure and compensatory-afforestation processes may conflict with pending rights. Where rights recognition is treated as secondary to project clearance, the corrective purpose of FRA is undermined.

Continuing relevance: MoTA continues to publish monthly implementation reports through 2026, indicating both substantial recognition and persistent inter-state variation.

Conclusion

Effective FRA implementation therefore requires empowered Gram Sabhas, acceptance of legally valid non-documentary evidence, transparent rejection and appeal procedures, priority to community rights and coordination between tribal, forest and revenue administrations.

2026 Make a critical appraisal of Niyamgiri movement against mining-induced displacement. 2026 Write an account on the prevalence of sickle cell disease among the tribal populations of India. What are the initiatives undertaken by the affected states to tackle with this disease? 2026 What are the major challenges tribal communities are facing in contemporary India? 2025 Examine the environmental and biocultural factors influencing the health of tribals of India.

Want feedback on your answer?

Join the Anthropology workshop or get structured answer-writing guidance from VAID ICS.

Join Workshop Contact VAID ICS

UPSC Anthropology Optional 2016 — Paper II

28 questions

1(d) Impact of Jainism on Indian society

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.4 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society > Jainism
2016Paper IIIndian Society, Caste & CivilizationModel answer available

1(b) Linguistic elements in Indian population

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 2. Demographic profile of India > Linguistic elements and their distribution
2016Paper IIIndian Society, Caste & CivilizationModel answer available

5(d) Tribe as a colonial construct

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.1 Tribal situation in India > Definition and construction of the category 'tribe'
2016Paper IITribal IndiaModel answer available