Important for UPSC, State PCS
Prelims: Naxal mukt Bharat Abhiyan . Operation Green Hunt .
Mains: General Studies Paper 3 – Government strategies to eliminate Naxalism . Left-Wing Extremism and internal security in India .
Context-
India has made significant strides in curbing Left Wing Extremism, with a sharp decline in affected districts, violence, and Naxalite presence. setting a target to eliminate Naxalism by 31st march 2026 ensuring that no citizen has to lose their life because of it.
What is the Naxalite Movement ?
The Naxalite Movement (also known as the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) movement) is a Maoist-inspired armed rebellion that originated in India as a struggle for land rights and socio-economic justice for the marginalized, especially tribals and landless peasants. Over time, it evolved into an insurgency against the Indian state, targeting symbols of authority like police, infrastructure, and elected representatives.
Origin of the Naxalite Movement
- Started in 1967 in the village of Naxalbari in West Bengal, led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and others.
- The initial uprising was over land redistribution, where poor farmers attempted to take over land from wealthy landlords.
- Inspired by Mao Zedong’s ideology of an agrarian revolution through armed struggle.
Ideology
- Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) [CPI (M-L)] believed in violent overthrow of the democratic state.
- Supports class war and claims to fight for the rights of the oppressed: tribal people, Dalits, and landless laborers.
- Strong influence of Maoist revolutionary philosophy, advocating protracted guerrilla warfare.
Consequences of Naxalism
- Political Consequences: It undermines state authority and weakens democratic institutions in affected areas.
- It also creates governance vacuums, making administration and law enforcement extremely difficult.
- Economic Consequences: Naxalism disrupts economic activities like agriculture, and infrastructure development.
- Increases government spending on security, reducing funds available for development and hampers private investment.
- Social Consequences: It fosters fear, mistrust, and a sense of alienation among marginalized communities.
- The disruption of education and health services, especially in remote areas, leads to significant human development losses.
Improvement in India’s Fight Against Naxalism
- Reduction in Affected Districts from 126 in 2010 to just 38 in 2024, showing successful containment of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) zones.
- Drop in Violence: LWE-related violent incidents have dropped by 81%, from 1,936 in 2010 to 374 in 2024.
- Reintegration into the Mainstream: LWE-affected areas are increasingly experiencing improved education, healthcare, connectivity, and governance.
- Over 8,000 Naxalites have surrendered in the last 10 years.
🛡️ Government Initiatives to Combat Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
The Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged approach combining security enhancement, developmental efforts, and administrative reforms to address the Naxalite (LWE) challenge. Some key initiatives include:
🔐 1. Security-Related Initiatives
🔸 Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme
- Implemented as a sub-scheme under the ‘Modernization of Police Forces’ (MPF) umbrella.
- Focuses on reimbursing the expenditure incurred by states for:
- Deployment of security forces
- Ex-gratia to victims
- Training and insurance
- Infrastructure and logistics in LWE-affected and monitored districts.
🔸 SAMADHAN Strategy
A holistic and coordinated strategy formulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with the following components:
- S – Smart Leadership
- A – Aggressive Strategy
- M – Motivation and Training
- A – Actionable Intelligence
- D – Dashboard-based KPIs and KRAs
- H – Harnessing Technology
- A – Action Plans for Each Theatre
- N – No Access to Financing for Naxals
➡️ Focuses on both kinetic (military) and non-kinetic (governance/development) approaches.
🔸 Fortified Police Stations Scheme
- 612 fortified police stations constructed in LWE-affected districts over the last 10 years.
- Aimed at strengthening security presence in vulnerable and remote areas.
- Improves morale, capability, and response time of local police.
🏗️ 2. Development-Oriented Measures
🔸 Aspirational Districts Programme
- The Ministry of Home Affairs monitors 35 LWE-affected districts under this initiative.
- Focused on improving socio-economic indicators such as:
- Health and nutrition
- Education
- Agriculture and water resources
- Skill development
- Financial inclusion and basic infrastructure
🔸 Special Central Assistance (SCA) Scheme
- Targeted financial assistance to bridge infrastructure and development gaps.
- Funds allocation:
- ₹30 crore per year to Most Affected Districts
- ₹10 crore per year to Districts of Concern
- Utilized for building roads, bridges, schools, anganwadis, drinking water facilities, etc.
📡 3. Technology and Intelligence Support
- Satellite-based tracking and surveillance, drone usage, and mobile towers in remote areas.
- Mobile connectivity expanded through Phase I and II telecom towers rollout in LWE-affected districts.
- Centralised intelligence grid to share actionable intelligence between Centre and States.
🤝 4. Community and Administrative Engagement
- Civic Action Programme (CAP): Encourages dialogue between security forces and tribal communities through camps, welfare drives, and sports events.
- Rehabilitation and Surrender Policies: Offers financial aid, vocational training, and reintegration support to surrendered extremists.
- Development Coordination Committees at state and district levels to ensure effective implementation.
✅ Impact of Government Initiatives (2014–2024)
| Indicator | Status |
|---|---|
| Incidents of LWE violence | 🔻 Reduced by 80% |
| LWE-affected districts | 🔻 Reduced from 126 to <40 |
| Civilian & Security deaths | 🔻 Major decline |
| Surrender of Naxals | 📈 Thousands surrendered |
| Infrastructure in Red Zones | 📶 Roads, telecom, schools improved |
🧾 Conclusion
India’s approach to eliminating Naxalism is balanced, data-driven, and inclusive, recognizing that force alone cannot solve ideological and socio-economic challenges. By combining security muscle with grassroots development, the Government aims to transform former Red Zones into Growth Corridors.
CBL Practice Questions for Prelims –
Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Naxalmukt Bharat Abhiyan’:
- It was launched under the National Policy and Action Plan of 2015.
- It is limited to states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand only.
- The aim is to completely eliminate LWE by 2026.
- Construction of fortified police stations is a key security measure.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A. 1, 3 and 4
B. 1, 2 and 3
C. 1 and 4 only
D. 2, 3 and 4
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The campaign is pan-India across multiple LWE-affected states. Statement 2 is incorrect.
CBL Mains Practice Question
“The success of Naxalmukt Bharat Abhiyan reflects a shift from coercive state response to a more developmental and inclusive approach.” Critically examine the strategies adopted under the Abhiyan and evaluate their effectiveness in addressing Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India.
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