Statement by India under Agenda Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, at the 61st Session of the Human Rights Council (23 Feb - 31 Mar 2026), Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 5 March 2026
Mr. President,
India thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. We firmly believe that land, as the basis of food production and livelihoods, plays a crucial role in the realization of the right to food.
India has consistently prioritised secure land access for small and marginal farmers. The Forest Rights Act recognises the customary land rights of tribal and forest-dwelling communities. The PM-KISAN scheme provides direct income support to over 110 million farmer families, while the National Food Security Act covers approximately 800 million beneficiaries. Our Soil Health Card Scheme and agroecological programmes directly address land degradation, consistent with the spirit of the Convention to Combat Desertification.
We also note the report's observations on digitalization of land governance. India's experience with the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme demonstrates that, when designed with inclusion in mind, digital tools can enhance transparency and protect the tenure rights of small-scale farmers and marginalized communities, rather than exacerbating their vulnerability. We also believe that land reform must be tailored to each country's legal and agrarian context.
Given that land degradation, food insecurity, and displacement disproportionately affect developing countries that have contributed least to the conditions driving these crises, what concrete obligations does the Special Rapporteur see for developed countries, beyond voluntary finance commitments, in supporting equitable land governance reforms in the Global South?
Thank you.
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