Decentralization reforms by theory are expected to produce positive outcomes.However, studies on decentralization reforms suggests that decentralization especially in the developing countries are taking place without establishing conditions which are necessary to produce positive outcomes that decentralization theory predicts. India has enacted the forest rights act, 2006 as the step towards democratic decentralization of forest governance. The act was aimedto undo the historical injustice done to the forest dependent communitiesand gives legal ownership of the forests to their customary users. Although FRA, 2006 was suggested to be progressive in nature and spirit but studies on FRA, 2006 thus far suggests that implementation of the FRA is beset with many conflicts and challenges. Most studies on FRA implementation suggests that there is aconflict between FRA and the existing forest polices and bureaucratic mindset of the implementation agency.The forest polices of India implemented currently were adopted directly from forest polices enacted by the British Colonial government. The impact of institutions are likely to persist for a very long time. Hence, areview on implementation of the FRA 2006 in India, was conducted with relevance to Colonization, adopting theconcept of ‘internalizing colonialism’of the political ecology framework. The results of the review indicates that the root cause of conflicts in implementation of the FRA 2006 in India might lie in the institutional reforms introduced during colonizationof the sub-continent, which continued through post-independence and present India through internal colonialism. The article can be downloaded from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294420766_The_Political_Ecology_of_Forest_Rights_Act_2006_-Internal_Colonialism_the_Main_Challenge_for_Democratic_Decentralization_of_Forest_Resource_Governance_in_India

2008?2016 researchgate.net.