The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) marks its 20th anniversary with notable achievements and ongoing challenges. Since its inception, approximately 5.12 million applications for rights have been submitted, resulting in 2.38 million individual titles and over 120,000 community titles granted, covering significant areas of forest land. However, around 1.86 million applications remain unresolved, often due to complex procedural issues. The Act aims to empower tribal and forest-dwelling communities, especially women, by integrating their rights into forest governance. Initiatives like the sale of 44.5 tonnes of sal seeds by women in Simdega district illustrate the economic benefits derived from organized community efforts. Furthermore, programs such as the Didi Bagiya scheme and Birsa Harit Gram Yojana (BHGY) emphasize the connection between environmental stewardship and livelihood creation. Despite these advancements, the FRA must continue to evolve, ensuring that rights are exercised effectively and that local governance structures are strengthened to support sustainable forest management and community resilience.