SYLLABUS

GS 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

GS 3: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security

Context: Recently, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has re-categorised the total number of left-wing extremism (LWE) affected districts in the country, replacing the earlier classification.

More on the News

• The move seeks to realign anti-Naxal strategies with evolving ground realities, reflecting a significant shrinking of the Red Corridor (Naxal-affected districts in India).
• Earlier in the Lok Sabha, the Union Government declared that India has become virtually ‘Naxal-free’, signifying a major achievement in internal security.
• Revised Classification: The previous “most affected districts” category has been replaced by a refined three-tier categorisation:
  o LWE Affected Districts: At present, only Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) and West Singhbhum (Jharkhand) are classified as LWE Affected Districts.
  o Districts of Concern: Kanker district in Chhattisgarh
  o Legacy & Thrust (L&T) Districts: Includes 35 districts that are either no longer significantly affected but need continued support to prevent relapse (Legacy) or are vulnerable to potential Naxal expansion (Thrust).
• Sharp Contraction of the Red Corridor: The spread of Left-Wing Extremism has reduced drastically from over 200 districts in 2005 to just 2 in 2026, highlighting the effectiveness of sustained security and developmental measures and aligning with India’s goal to eliminate LWE by March 2026.
• Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: The updated categorisations will shape resource allocation under the SRE Scheme, under which the Centre reimburses States for security force operations, ex gratia payments, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadres, and community policing.

About Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in India

• Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), also known as Maoism/Naxalism, is an armed insurgency that seeks to overthrow the democratic state through a protracted people’s war, inspired by Maoist ideology.
• Origin: The movement began with the 1967 Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal and later expanded across parts of central and eastern India, forming the so-called “Red Corridor.”
  o Although its footprint has declined, it continues to affect select pockets across multiple states.
• Evolution of CPI (Maoist): In 2004, major insurgent groups such as the People's War Group (PWG), the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI), and factions of the CPI (ML) merged to form the CPI (Maoist), which remains the primary LWE organisation carrying out insurgent activities.
• Objectives: The movement aims to capture state power through armed struggle, leveraging tribal discontent, land alienation, inequality, and governance deficits.
  o It follows a strategy of guerrilla warfare, establishing control in remote areas and gradually expanding influence.
• Urban–Rural Linkages: LWE operates through an urban–rural network, where urban fronts facilitate ideological support, funding, and recruitment, while rural strongholds act as operational bases and zones of influence.

Government Initiatives to Address LWE

• Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: Implemented as a sub-scheme of the Modernisation of Police Forces, it enables the Centre to reimburse States for security-related costs in LWE-affected and monitored districts.
• SAMADHAN Strategy: It is a comprehensive framework based on Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation & training, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based monitoring, Harnessing technology, Theatre-specific action plans, and choking financing, ensuring a coordinated response to LWE.
• Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme: Designed to weaken insurgent ranks by offering financial incentives and livelihood support of ₹5 lakh for top cadres, ₹2.5 lakh for others, along with a ₹10,000 monthly stipend for up to 36 months for skill training.
• National Policy and Action Plan (2015): Adopts a multi-pronged approach combining security operations, development initiatives, and protection of rights and entitlements of local communities.
• Educational & Skill Development Initiatives: To address root causes, the government has sanctioned 48 ITIs and 61 Skill Development Centres in LWE-affected districts to enhance employment opportunities.
• Operation Black Forest (2025): A 21-day large-scale counter-insurgency operation launched in April 2025 targeting Maoist strongholds in the Karreguttalu Hills along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border, aimed at dismantling insurgent networks.

Way Forward

• Consolidation of Security Gains: Sustain intelligence-driven operations and strengthen coordination between Central and State forces to prevent any resurgence in residual hotspots.
• Deepening Development Interventions: Accelerate infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, and education in affected regions to address root causes like poverty, exclusion, and underdevelopment.
• Strengthening Last-Mile Delivery: Improve administrative presence and service delivery in remote areas, ensuring effective implementation of welfare schemes and building trust among local communities.
• Focus on Tribal Rights and Inclusion: Ensure proper implementation of laws like the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and promote participatory development, safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of tribal populations.
• Rehabilitation and Reintegration: Further strengthen surrender and rehabilitation policies to ensure long-term reintegration of former cadres into mainstream society.