India’s Strategic Response to Left-Wing Extremism : An Assessment

Prof. Girish Kant Pandey¹  Principal, Govt. K.R.D. College, Nawagarh, Dist. – Bemetara (C.G.)  Mr. Hitesh Patel²  Research Scholar, Dept. of...

Prof. Girish Kant Pandey¹ Principal, Govt. K.R.D. College, Nawagarh, Dist. – Bemetara (C.G.) 

Mr. Hitesh Patel² Research Scholar, Dept. of Defence Studies, Govt. N.P.G. College of Science, Raipur (C.G.)

Abstract

    Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), commonly known as Maoism or Naxalism, was regarded by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2006 as one of the most serious challenges to India’s internal security. However, after two decades, the geographical spread of LWE has been reduced and is now confined to only 03 districts. This research paper examines the historical background, ideological foundations, geographical expansion, and operational dynamics of Left-Wing Extremism in India. It further presents an analysis of the integrated counter-insurgency strategy adopted by the Government of India for its elimination. The study evaluates major policy measures such as the National Policy and Action Plan (2015), SAMADHAN Strategy (2017), Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, control over financial networks, Security Related Expenditure Scheme, Special Central Assistance and the Civic Action Programme. The data obtained from the study clearly indicates that between 2010 and 2025, there has been a significant decline in violent incidents and in the number of affected districts. The research adopts both qualitative and quantitative approaches, using data from government documents, academic studies, newspapers and the reports & interview of security agencies. Ultimately, based on the aforementioned study, it can be stated that a coordinated approach focusing on security, development and rights has played a crucial role in weakening the structural and functional foundations of Left-Wing Extremism.

Keywords: Left-Wing Extremism, Maoism, Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, Internal Security.

1. Introduction

    Left-Wing Extremism refers to an ideological and organized violent movement, which is inspired by Marxist–Leninist–Maoist ideology and challenges state authority through armed struggle. In the Indian context, it is commonly known as the Naxalite or Maoist movement. Its primary objective is to overthrow the existing political and economic system and establish an alternative revolutionary governance through a “protracted people’s war.”

    In India, Left-Wing Extremism originated in 1967 from the Naxalbari movement in the Darjeeling region of West Bengal. The movement was led by leaders such as Charu Mazumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal. Initially emerging in the context of land disputes and rural discontent, the movement gradually transformed into an ideological and armed insurgency. In 1969, the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) was formed. During the 1980s, the movement was reorganized through organizations such as the People’s War Group of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) in Andhra Pradesh and the Maoist Communist Centre in the Bihar–Jharkhand region. The merger of these groups led to the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004, which provided the movement with an all-India organizational structure.

Source : Made by Researchers

    In India, Naxalism originated in 1967 from the Naxalbari movement in West Bengal and gradually expanded into what is known as the “Red Corridor” across various states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Although Maoists claim to protect marginalized tribal communities, in practice they rely on violence and illegal extortion for their operations. India’s multi-dimensional counter-insurgency strategy has significantly reduced violence, weakened the movement and led to the reintegration of affected districts. As a result of the Government of India’s decisive security strategy, substantial progress has been achieved in reducing LWE-affected areas across the country.

    The government has adopted an integrated, multi-dimensional and robust counter-insurgency approach against Left-Wing Extremism, which has proven more effective compared to earlier approaches. Based on clear principles of coordination, security and development, the Government of India has set a firm objective to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism from all affected areas by March 2026.

2. Theory of Maoist Insurgency

    The central element of Maoist ideology is violence, which is considered a primary instrument for dismantling existing social, economic, and political structures. For this purpose, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has established its armed wing, the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). In the initial phase, the PLGA adopts guerrilla warfare, targeted killings and the creation of a climate of fear to weaken state authority by targeting local administration, police forces, public representatives, and political actors, thereby attempting to create a power vacuum in governance.

    After establishing control in rural areas, the organization exerts pressure on the local population to participate in the movement and exploits governance deficiencies to intensify discontent. In urban and semi-urban areas, it operates through front organizations that facilitate ideological support, recruitment, financial mobilization, legal assistance and propaganda activities. These organizations emphasize issues such as human rights, displacement, and corporate exploitation to strengthen their ideological base.

    The CPI (Maoist) also seeks to consolidate its long-term strategy by forming a “United Front” with other like-minded extremist organizations. It has set a declared objective to destabilize the existing democratic system by 2052 and to establish an alternative political order in accordance with the concept of a “New Democratic Revolution.”

3. Concept and Geographical Expansion of the Red Corridor

    The term “Red Corridor” refers to those geographical regions in India where the influence of Left-Wing Extremism or Naxalism has historically been significant. It is not a formal constitutional or administrative unit, but rather an analytical concept used in security and strategic discourse. In these regions, active extremist groups, particularly the Communist Party of India (Maoist), have been conducting ideological, military, and political activities, especially in rural and tribal-dominated areas. The term “Red” symbolizes communist ideology, while “Corridor” indicates a chain of geographically connected areas. The spread of the Red Corridor has primarily been concentrated in the central and eastern parts of India, where dense forests, abundant mineral resources, a high tribal population, limited administrative reach and socio-economic backwardness have created conditions conducive to insurgency.

Source : Drishti IAS

    Earlier, the Red Corridor extended from the Pashupatinath region of Nepal to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, covering approximately 182 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism. However, over the past decade, due to coordinated security and development strategies implemented by the central and state governments, there has been a significant reduction in the number of affected districts. As a result, the geographical spread of the Red Corridor has considerably contracted and is now limited to only a few districts compared to earlier levels.

Due to decisive operations by the government and security forces, the total number of districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism has declined from 182 in 2013 to only 11 in 2025. At the time of the formation of CPI (Maoist), a total of 09 states were within the ambit of the so-called Red Corridor. However, over the past decade, as a result of the Government of India’s SAMADHAN strategy and effective counter-insurgency operations by security forces, the Red Corridor has now been restricted to only 08 districts across 03 states—Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Along with this, the active area committees of Left-Wing Extremists are also shrinking. In the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, the successful implementation of the “Puna Narkom” (New Beginning) policy has led to the deactivation of most Maoist area committees. According to available data, the network of 29 active Maoist area committees in Chhattisgarh has been reduced to only four active committees by March 2026.

4. Nature and Modus Operandi of Left-Wing Extremism

    Left-Wing Extremism is an organized, ideological and the long-term armed insurgency aimed at challenging state authority and establishing an alternative revolutionary system. In India, it is primarily led by the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Its operational framework is multidimensional, incorporating military, political, economic, and propaganda components. The nature of LWE reflects a combination of ideological motivation and violent struggle, largely influenced by Mao Zedong’s doctrine of protracted people’s war, which emphasizes capturing state power through sustained armed conflict. The emergence of Left-Wing Extremism is rooted in structural issues such as inequality, failure of land reforms and displacement of tribal communities. Maoist groups mobilize these communities, particularly tribals and the landless population, to build their support base. They consider violence as the principal means of achieving socio-political transformation, as reflected in the Maoist belief that “political power flows from the barrel of a gun.” In affected regions, they attempt to establish parallel governance structures, often referred to as “Janatana Sarkar.”

    The modus operandi of Left-Wing Extremism is multi-layered, organized and based on long-term strategic planning. In India, its operations are primarily conducted under the leadership of CPI (Maoist). Maoists first mobilize the population and generate political awareness among them. They highlight governance failures related to basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, education and healthcare. They organize their cadres into small, well-structured armed squads to target their so-called “class enemies,” including landlords, corrupt officials, political leaders and police forces. At the top level, Left-Wing Extremist organizations function under a central organizational committee.

Source : Made by Researchers

    These bodies determine the ideological direction, strategic decisions and long-term military and political programmes. Under them function state committees, special zonal committees and regional committees, which implement plans according to local conditions. Within the military structure, the armed wing of Left-Wing Extremists is known as the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), which operates in small units and is proficient in guerrilla warfare. The PLGA is organized into three tiers—main force, regional guerrilla squads and people’s militia and its operations fall under the category of asymmetric warfare, distinct from conventional warfare. In recent years, to counter the numerical superiority of security forces, Left-Wing Extremists have increasingly relied on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Barrel Grenade Launchers (BGLs) instead of direct engagements.

    In addition, Left-Wing Extremists have developed a multi-dimensional financial network over time to sustain their organizational activities, including arms procurement, training, propaganda and logistics. They collect funds in the form of so-called “levy” from local contractors, traders, road construction projects, and government schemes. In their long-term strategy, mass base creation remains a central element. Alongside armed activities, these organizations attempt to establish ideological, social, and structural influence within local communities to legitimize their existence. As part of this process, they organize so-called “Janatana Sarkar” or “people’s courts,” which function as alternatives to formal state institutions. Through this mechanism, Maoist groups seek to portray state policies as anti-people, gain ideological support and present themselves as representatives of the marginalized. The CPI (Maoist) has also worked towards forming a “United Front” with other like-minded extremist or insurgent organizations.

5. Integrated Strategy of the Government of India for the Elimination of LWE

    According to the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, “police” and “public order” are subjects of state governments. However, the Government of India provides support to the efforts of LWE-affected states. In this context, to address the challenge of Left-Wing Extremism in a comprehensive manner, the Government of India approved the “National Policy and Action Plan” in 2015 and the “SAMADHAN” strategy in 2017, along with the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy. These initiatives adopt a multi-dimensional approach, incorporating security measures, development initiatives and the protection of rights of local communities and have proven effective at the ground level.

5.1 National Policy and Action Plan (2015)

    As a result of the effective implementation of this policy, there has been a continuous decline in LWE-related violence, and its geographical spread has also reduced. Left-Wing Extremism, once a major internal security challenge, has been significantly controlled in recent years, and the Red Corridor has been restricted to only a few areas or districts. The number of LWE-affected districts has declined from 126 in 2018 to only 08 in 2025, out of which only 03 districts are now categorized as the most severely affected.

    However, to prevent the re-establishment of CPI (Maoist) in areas recently freed from the influence of Left-Wing Extremism, 27 districts have been designated as “Legacy and Thrust Districts.” The number of violent incidents carried out by Left-Wing Extremists has declined by 88%, from a peak of 1936 incidents in 2010 to 234 in 2025. As a result, the number of deaths of civilians and security personnel has also reduced by 90%, from 1005 in 2010 to a minimum of 100 in 2025. During the period from 01-01-2014 to 31-12-2025, the year-wise data on civilian deaths, Maoists neutralized, security personnel martyred, arrests made, surrenders and rehabilitated Left-Wing Extremists is presented in Table–02.

5.2 SAMADHAN Strategy (2017)

    The SAMADHAN strategy is a comprehensive counter-insurgency framework introduced by the Government of India to effectively address Left-Wing Extremism. It was adopted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2017. SAMADHAN is an acronym-based approach that focuses on enhancing the operational effectiveness of security forces through aggressive strategies, strengthening actionable intelligence, leveraging technology and establishing control over financial and logistical networks. It also emphasizes the use of development initiatives to eliminate the root causes of extremism. This strategy provides a comprehensive approach to counter long-standing Left-Wing Extremism in states such as Chhattisgarh.

Source : Vision IAS

5.3 Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy

    The Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy has brought a significant transformation in reducing Left-Wing Extremism by providing attractive incentives and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for surrendered cadres. Under this policy, top-level Maoist cadres are provided financial assistance of ₹5 lakh, while middle and lower-level cadres receive ₹2.5 lakh. Additionally, all surrendered individuals are provided a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 for a period of 36 months along with vocational training. As a result, in 2025, a total of 2337 Left-Wing Extremists surrendered, which is nearly double compared to 2024.

Source : Made by Researchers

    As a result of the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, there has been an 88% decline in violence between 2010 and 2025, which has also led to a reduction in the number of LWE-affected police stations from 465 in 2010 to 119 in 2025. In recent years, several prominent Maoist leaders who have surrendered include CPI (Maoist) General Secretary and Central Military Commission in-charge Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju (Devji), senior central committee member Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram, central committee member Mallojula Venu Gopal Rao alias Bhupati, T. Vasudev Rao alias Satish, Ramdher and Papa Rao. According to official data released by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India, a total of 2553 Maoists surrendered between 1 January 2024 and 30 March 2026, as presented in Table–03.

    The presented table provides a comparative analysis of Maoists neutralized and those who surrendered across different levels over the last two years. A total of 516 Maoists were killed, while 2553 surrendered, indicating an increasing trend of surrender. At higher levels (Politburo and Central Committee), the numbers are relatively low, whereas at lower and middle levels (Area Committees, Party cadres, and frontal organizations), higher activity is observed. This indicates that government policies, sustained security pressure, and the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Programme are proving effective.

5.4 Control over the Financial Network of Left-Wing Extremists

    The financial network constitutes a major source of strength for Left-Wing Extremism. Effective control over financial resources weakens the operational capacity of the organization, including arms procurement, recruitment, propaganda, and mass base creation. Under its integrated strategy, the Government of India has adopted a multi-dimensional and aggressive approach to dismantle the financial structure of Left-Wing Extremism. The primary objective of this strategy is to disrupt the linkages between Maoists and their financial supporters and to completely block the flow of resources.

    The central government has strengthened financial surveillance by establishing a dedicated division within the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to curb Maoist funding. This has resulted in the seizure of assets worth more than ₹40 crore. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also attached properties worth ₹12 crore. Coordinated actions have also targeted the so-called “Urban Naxals” and their legal support networks, causing significant moral and psychological setbacks to Left-Wing Extremists and tightening control over their information and financial networks.

5.5 Security Related Expenditure Scheme

    The objective of the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme is to enhance the capacity of states affected by Left-Wing Extremism to effectively address the problem. Under this scheme, the central government reimburses security-related expenditure incurred by LWE-affected districts as well as designated districts under monitoring. The scheme provides financial support for ex-gratia payments to the families of civilians and security personnel killed in LWE violence, compensation to surrendered cadres as per the rehabilitation policy, and assistance for community policing initiatives and village defence committees. It also covers expenditure on security infrastructure and publicity materials related to counter-insurgency efforts. Over the past five years, a total of ₹1685.65 crore has been released to LWE-affected states under this scheme, as reflected in Table–04.

5.6 Special Central Assistance and Special Infrastructure Scheme

    Under these schemes, a comprehensive programme for the modernization of police forces is being implemented. This includes strengthening basic security infrastructure such as state intelligence units, special forces, district police, and fortified police stations through financial assistance provided by the Government of India to the states. Under the Special Infrastructure Scheme, ₹1741 crore has been sanctioned, while under the Special Central Assistance scheme, initiated in 2017, a total of ₹3563 crore has been released so far to states affected by Left-Wing Extremism.

5.7 Civic Action Programme

    The Civic Action Programme is being implemented as a sub-component of the police modernization initiative to reduce the gap between security forces and local communities in LWE-affected areas through direct interaction, and to project a humane image of the security forces among the general population. The programme has been largely successful in achieving its objectives. Under this scheme, funds are provided to deployed Central Armed Police Forces to conduct various civic welfare activities for local communities in affected areas. Since 2014–15, a total of ₹196.23 crore has been released by the Government of India under the Civic Action Programme.

6. Conclusion

    Left-Wing Extremism has been a long-standing internal security challenge in India, rooted in socio-economic inequalities, administrative neglect, and the lack of development in tribal regions. However, the integrated “security and development” approach adopted by the Government of India has ensured substantial progress in addressing this issue. The government has focused on development initiatives in tribal and remote areas affected by LWE. Improved law and order conditions, enhanced security mechanisms, and investment in basic infrastructure have created a favorable environment for economic development.

    The decline in the number of LWE-affected districts, reduction in violent incidents, increasing trend of surrenders, and effective control over financial networks highlight the success of India’s integrated strategy. In particular, initiatives such as the National Policy and Action Plan, SAMADHAN strategy, Security Related Expenditure Scheme, Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Policy, Special Central Assistance, Special Infrastructure Scheme, and the Civic Action Programme have strengthened the capacity of security forces while also building trust among local communities. Therefore, it can be concluded that through the coordination of political will, administrative commitment, and public participation, India has entered a decisive phase towards the elimination of Left-Wing Extremism.

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