PESA Act, 1996
Gram Sabha Primacy in Scheduled Areas
The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 extends Part IX of the Constitution (Panchayati Raj) to Fifth Schedule tribal areas with modifications that give the Gram Sabha primacy over natural resource management, minor forest produce, and mandatory consultation before land acquisition or resettlement in scheduled areas.
- Enacted December 24, 1996; applicable in Fifth Schedule areas across 10 states (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana)
- Mandates that the Gram Sabha or Panchayat at the appropriate level be consulted before land acquisition for development projects and before resettling or rehabilitating affected persons in Scheduled Areas
- Distinct from the FRA: PESA is a Panchayati Raj governance statute (consultation-based primacy over resources), while FRA is a rights-recognition statute (individual and community forest-rights titling) — the two overlap but operate under different nodal ministries (Ministry of Panchayati Raj administers PESA; MoTA administers FRA)
● Tracked since April 10, 2026 · last seen September 07, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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