Current Affairs Topics Archive
International Relations Economics Polity & Governance Environment & Ecology Science & Technology Internal Security Geography Social Issues Art & Culture Modern History

Maoist campaign saw continuity across regimes, sharper push recently: Former MHA official

March 29, 2026 4 min read Internal Security Polity & Governance GS3 (Internal Security Left Wing Extremism Role of Security Forces)
On This Page ▼

What Happened

  • A former Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) official gave a detailed assessment of India's anti-Maoist campaign, noting that the overall strategy of combining security operations with development has continued across political regimes since 2006.
  • He identified 2006–2009 as the most difficult period, when Maoist violence was at its peak and the movement threatened governance in large parts of central and eastern India.
  • The official credited the sustained gains made over successive years, culminating in a "resolute push" over the past two years under Home Minister Amit Shah's deadline of March 31, 2026, to eradicate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) from the country.
  • Security forces launched massive operations in early 2026 to meet the deadline; over 2,300 Maoists surrendered in 2025 alone, and over 630 more in the first three months of 2026.
  • Senior Maoist commander "Papa Rao" surrendered days before the March 31 deadline — a symbolic milestone.
  • Realist assessment: complete eradication as an absolute benchmark is unlikely, but dismantling LWE as a significant internal security threat has largely been achieved.
  • LWE-affected districts now stand at just 7 (per a February 2026 MHA review), down from a peak of ~180 in the late 2000s.

Static Topic Bridges

Left Wing Extremism and the Naxalite Movement: Origins and Evolution

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India traces its origins to the 1967 Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal, when a section of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal advocated armed agrarian revolution inspired by Maoist China. The movement spread across the "Red Corridor" — a swathe of mineral-rich, forest-covered, and tribally populated districts across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

  • At its peak in the late 2000s, the movement affected ~180 districts across approximately 92,000 sq km.
  • The People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) — the armed wing of CPI (Maoist) — has been designated a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
  • In 2010, the Dantewada attack killed 76 CRPF personnel; then-PM Manmohan Singh called Naxalism "the single biggest internal security threat" to India.
  • By March 2025, Naxal presence was limited to 18 districts, with only 6 classified as "most affected."
  • Over 10,000 Maoists surrendered between 2015 and 2025; more than 5,000 insurgents have been killed since 2000.

Connection to this news: The former MHA official's account contextualises the current "final push" within a 20-year strategic arc — illustrating that the March 31, 2026 deadline is the culmination of policy continuity, not an overnight achievement.

The Dual-Pronged Strategy: Security Operations and Development

India's counter-LWE policy has always been framed as a combination of security operations and development interventions in affected districts. The SAMADHAN doctrine (Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based KPIs, Harnessing technology, Action plan for each theatre, No access to financing) formalised this approach.

  • CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) is the primary central paramilitary deployed in LWE-affected areas; its specialised units include CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action).
  • Road connectivity, mobile towers, banking outlets, Aadhar enrolment, and delivery of welfare schemes (PMAY, PMGSY) are key development instruments to reduce alienation.
  • The National Policy and Action Plan to Address LWE (2015) set the overarching governance framework.
  • Fortified Police Stations (FPS) were established in 485 locations in LWE-affected districts to extend state presence.
  • Aspirational Districts Programme: many LWE-affected districts overlap with the 112 "aspirational districts," getting additional development funding and monitoring.

Connection to this news: The former official's account explicitly credits the combination of sustained security pressure and development penetration — not pure military force — as the mechanism behind the gradual shrinkage of the Red Corridor, making the current near-eradication a policy success story with important governance lessons.

MHA's Role in Internal Security and Centre-State Coordination

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) coordinates internal security policy between the Union government and state police forces — a constitutionally significant relationship since "Police" is a state subject under Schedule VII, List II of the Indian Constitution. Counter-LWE operations require exceptional Centre-State coordination because Maoist activity crosses multiple state boundaries.

  • MHA deploys central paramilitary forces (CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB) on requisition from state governments under Article 355, which mandates the Centre to protect states from internal disturbance.
  • The SRE (Security Related Expenditure) scheme reimburses states for security operations costs and rehabilitation of surrendered Maoists.
  • MHA's LWE Division monitors district-level progress through a dedicated dashboard tracking violence incidents, surrenders, arrests, and development milestones.
  • The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and state intelligence wings coordinate actionable intelligence sharing for preemptive operations.

Connection to this news: The official's point about "continuity across regimes" highlights how MHA's institutional mechanisms — SRE funding, intelligence coordination, paramilitary deployment protocols — outlasted political transitions, enabling the sustained campaign that has now brought the movement to the verge of eradication.

Key Facts & Data

  • Peak LWE impact: ~180 districts, ~92,000 sq km in the late 2000s (Red Corridor).
  • Current LWE-affected districts (February 2026 MHA review): 7 districts.
  • 2006–2009 identified as the most difficult period by former MHA official.
  • 2,300+ Maoists surrendered in 2025; 630+ in first three months of 2026.
  • Senior commander "Papa Rao" surrendered days before the March 31, 2026 deadline.
  • Home Minister Amit Shah's deadline: complete eradication of armed Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
  • Over 10,000 Maoists surrendered between 2015 and 2025; over 5,000 killed since 2000.
  • PLGA is designated a terrorist organisation under UAPA.
  • SAMADHAN doctrine governs the current counter-LWE strategy.