India, Aug. 7 -- The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has strongly criticised the Forest Rights Guidelines issued through a joint communication dated July 27, 2026, by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, alleging that they undermine both the letter and spirit of the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

According to AIKS, the communication sent to state chief secretaries directs states to ensure that Community Forest Resource (CFR) plans are harmonised with forest department-approved working plans.

The organisation said the new guidelines supersede the 2015 guidelines issued under Section 12 of the FRA and build upon what it described as anti-democratic and anti-tribal guidance circulated in June 20...