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Nyaya Vidhiन्याय विधि · Indian Law, Lucid
Enacted 1980Environment & LandShowcase

वन संरक्षण अधिनियम

The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

A short statute that places a federal check on de-reservation and diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. Just five operative sections, but each one carries far-reaching consequences for States, project developers and forest-dependent communities.

Sections
5
Chapters
1
Tier
Tier 1
Commenced
Deemed to have come into force on 25 October 1980

Preamble

What this Act sets out to do

An Act to provide for the conservation of forests and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-first Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

Table of contents

Chapters

  1. Chapter I§15

    The Act

    The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is one of India's shortest environmental statutes — five operative sections, no chapters in the original PDF. Despite its size, it is the single most powerful federal lever over State governments when it comes to diverting forest land. Walk through each section below; every quote, scenario and FAQ is drawn directly from the source PDF.

    5 sections

Source

Read the Act yourself

Every section page on this site links back to the exact page in the source PDF. You can also open the full Act below.

About this Act

Quick facts

Year
1980
Sections
5
Chapters
1
Tier
Tier 1

Amendments

  • 1988Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 1988 — Inserted Section 1A (extension to J&K), expanded Section 2 to also cover clearance of naturally-grown trees and assignment of forest land by way of lease, and added Sections 3A (penalty) and 3B (offences by Government departments). The user's source PDF predates these amendments.
  • 2023Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 — amendment — Renamed the Act and carved out specified exemptions (linear projects in border areas, defence-related projects, etc.) from the prior-approval requirement under Section 2.
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