THE 2021 AMENDMENTS ON TRIBAL RIGHTS AND LAND GOVERNANCE: LEGAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Author(s): Sheetal
Publication #: 2602012
Date of Publication: 14.02.2026
Country: India
Pages: 1-7
Published In: Volume 12 Issue 1 February-2026
Abstract
In a historic move, the Indian government will reform tribal rights and land governance in 2021 in an attempt to better safeguard indigenous people, make ownership patterns more transparent, and guarantee sustainable land management. The historical issues of Scheduled Tribes, such as land alienation, displacement, and marginalization, are addressed by these changes, which lay an emphasis on the role of tribal councils and gram sabhas in governance. Formalizing land documentation, improving community-based dispute resolution systems, and codifying prohibitions on the sale of tribal lands to non-tribal corporations are all aspects of the legal changes. In terms of society, their goals include protecting traditional practices, ensuring people can continue to make a living, and encouraging all members of the community, regardless of gender or where they live, to take part. Uneven enforcement, disagreements between state development plans and tribe consent, and a lack of legal knowledge are some of the practical issues that persist despite these advancements. Cases at the state level involving tribal land rights and recent judicial developments like Ram Charan v. Sukhram (2025) show how constitutional and legislative frameworks are interpreting property, gender, and indigenous governance. This study analyzes the 2021 revisions from a legal and social perspective, looking at their pros and cons. It examines the relationship between law, culture, and sustainable development in India's tribal territories, and how these factors affect one another.
Keywords: Tribal Rights, Scheduled Tribes, Land Alienation, Indigenous Autonomy, Constitutional Protections.
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