Odisha Government’s Decision to Close FRA Support Cells | 19 Feb 2026

Why in News? 

The Odisha government’s directions to shut down Forest Rights Cells (FRCs) at district and sub-district levels have come under scrutiny from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), citing concerns over the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. 

Key Points: 

• Forest Rights Cells (FRCs): Forest Rights Cells are dedicated administrative units created to support the implementation of the FRA, 2006. 
  • Functions: These specialized cells were instrumental in processing land claims and providing technical support to tribal communities. 
• Dissolution of Sub-divisional Cells: On February 17, 2026, the Odisha government ordered the closure of all 50 sub-divisional FRA Cells functioning under the Central Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA) scheme by the end of March. 
  • This follows the earlier discontinuation of district and tehsil-level cells under the State’s Mo Jungle Jami Yojana. 
• Mandate: The government has directed that all pending forest rights claims at these levels must be cleared before the March deadline. 
• Central Scrutiny: MoTA is inquiring into these decisions, emphasizing that support staff for FRA implementation must be ensured at all levels. 
• Status of FRA: Despite being a top performer in issuing forest rights titles, Odisha faces challenges, ranking sixth in the country for pending claims as of December 2025, with about 20% of cases unresolved.  
  • The data indicates significant pending Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Rights (CR) claims, sparking concerns over the sudden push to clear them. 
• Significance: Potential impact on tribal rights recognition and may slow down recognition of community forest governance 
  • Legal Compliance: Critics raise questions regarding alignment with the Forest Rights Act, 2006, regarding the protection of tribal entitlements.