SYLLABUS

GS-3: Linkages between development and the spread of extremism; Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

Context: Recently, the Union Home Ministry announced that the number of Left-Wing Extremism-affected districts has been brought down to 11 from 18 across India.

More on the News

• The announcement came as senior CPI (Maoist) leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao, also known as Bhupati, and 60 cadres surrendered in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

• Only three districts—Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh—remain classified as the ‘most affected’ by Maoist activities.

• In 2013, a total of 126 districts across multiple states were affected by Naxalism. Continuous operations have now restricted this number to 11.

• Union Home Minister stated that India is aiming to eliminate the Naxal menace completely by March 31, 2026.

• The Ministry highlighted that the year 2025 has witnessed record operational successes with large numbers of Maoists either neutralised, arrested, or surrendered.

About Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)

• LWE is based on a dangerous ideology that utilises violence and propaganda with the aim of establishing a classless society by overthrowing the Government in power.

• LWE emerged in 1967 in Naxalbari, Phansidewa, and Khoribari of West Bengal’s Darjeeling District.

• The term ‘Naxal’ originates from the village of Naxalbari in West Bengal. 
• Naxal, Naxalite, and Naxalvadi are generic terms that refer to various militant Communist groups operating in different parts of India under different organisational structures. 

Eradication of Left Wing Extremism

• A “National Policy and Action Plan” was approved in 2015 to envisage a multi-prolonged strategy involving security-related measures, development interventions, ensuing rights and entitlements of local communities etc.

• SAMADHAN Doctrine is the one-stop solution for the LWE. It was introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2017:

• Smart Leadership
• Aggressive Strategy
• Motivation and Training
• Actionable Intelligence
• Dashboard-Based KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and KRAs (Key Result Areas)
• Harnessing Technology
• Action Plan for Each Theatre
• No Access to Financing

• Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: This Scheme is being implemented as a sub-scheme of the umbrella scheme ‘Modernisation of Police Forces’. Under the SRE Scheme, the Central Government reimburses security-related expenditure for LWE-affected districts and districts earmarked for monitoring.

• Special Central Assistance (SCA) for most LWE affected districts: This Scheme was approved in 2017 and is being implemented as a sub-scheme of the umbrella scheme ‘Modernization of Police Forces’. The main objective of the Scheme is to fill the critical gaps in Public Infrastructure and Services in most LWE affected districts, which are of emergent nature.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Discuss the measures undertaken by the Government of India to tackle Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives in reducing the spread of Naxalism across India.

Source:
PIB
THE ECONOMIC TIMES
THE HINDU
PIB