Naxalism eradicated from country before March 31 deadline due to valour of forces: Amit Shah

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) formally communicated to nine previously affected States that no district in India any longer falls under the category of ...

What Happened

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) formally communicated to nine previously affected States that no district in India any longer falls under the category of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas, marking the declared end of an insurgency that had persisted for nearly six decades.
A comprehensive security review completed after the March 31, 2026 deadline — set as the target for eliminating LWE — confirmed that armed Naxal cadres have been neutralised, their capacity to carry out violence has been dismantled, "liberated zones" no longer exist, and the frequency of violent incidents has dropped to zero.
The MHA introduced two new administrative categories for 38 districts that were once severely affected: 37 districts have been designated "Legacy and Thrust Districts" for continued development attention, and one district — West Singhbhum in Jharkhand — has been classified as a "District of Concern."
Security forces' operations, intelligence-led counter-insurgency, and targeted development programmes under the SAMADHAN doctrine are credited for the outcome.
The achievement comes after a peak of 126 districts across 10 States being designated LWE-affected in 2014; the number had fallen to 11 by late 2025 before reaching zero.

Static Topic Bridges

Left Wing Extremism in India — Origin, Spread, and the Red Corridor

Left Wing Extremism (LWE), commonly called Naxalism, originated in the Naxalbari village of Darjeeling district, West Bengal, in May 1967. A peasant uprising led by Charu Majumdar, Jangal Santhal, and Kanu Sanyal against feudal landowners triggered police firing on May 25, 1967, crystallising the movement. The ideology draws from Marxist-Leninist-Maoist thought, rejecting parliamentary democracy and advocating armed agrarian revolution.

1967: Naxalbari uprising — the founding event.
1969: Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) formed by Charu Majumdar.
2004: CPI (Maoist) formed through a merger of the People's War Group (PWG) and Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) — the most formidable Maoist organisation.
The "Red Corridor": a belt running through Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Peak (2014): 126 districts across 10 States designated LWE-affected.
Violence incidents fell by nearly 70% compared to 2013 levels, as per MHA data.
States most affected at peak: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Bihar.

Connection to this news: The declared eradication in 2026 closes a chapter that began at Naxalbari in 1967 — a 59-year insurgency that cost thousands of lives of civilians, security personnel, and Maoist cadres.

SAMADHAN Strategy — India's Counter-LWE Doctrine

The SAMADHAN doctrine was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2017 as a comprehensive, multi-dimensional framework to address LWE through integrated security operations, intelligence, development, and financial disruption.

SAMADHAN is an acronym: Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation and training, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based KPIs, Harnessing technology, Action plan for each theater, No access to financing.
Announced at the Review Meeting of LWE-affected States by the Union Home Minister on May 8, 2017.
Ran alongside development schemes: PMGSY (road connectivity), Aspirational Districts Programme (formerly Backward Regions Grant Fund), mobile connectivity, and banking outreach in LWE-affected areas.
The Aspirational Districts Programme (launched 2018) directly targeted 35 of the most underdeveloped districts, several of which overlapped with LWE-affected areas.
Intelligence-led operations: Greyhounds (Andhra Pradesh), CRPF's COBRA battalion, and State police commando units were central to the security component.

Connection to this news: The success in eliminating LWE by the March 2026 deadline is directly attributed to the SAMADHAN strategy's integrated approach — combining kinetic operations with social and economic development.

Constitutional and Statutory Framework for Internal Security

Internal security, including counter-insurgency, falls within the domain of the Union Government under Entry 1 of the Union List (Seventh Schedule) — "Defence of India and every part thereof." However, law and order is a State subject under Entry 1 of the State List, requiring the Centre to deploy Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) only in coordination with States.

Entry 1, Union List: Defence of India (Centre).
Entry 1, State List: Public order and police (States).
Entry 2A, Union List: Deployment of armed forces of the Union to aid civil power in a State (Article 355 duty of the Union to protect States from internal disturbance).
Article 355: It is the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the Constitution.
UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967): CPI (Maoist) was designated a terrorist organisation under UAPA.
CAPFs deployed: CRPF (including COBRA), BSF, ITBP, and CISF in support of State police forces.

Connection to this news: The MHA declaration that LWE has been eradicated is, in constitutional terms, a statement that the Article 355 obligation to protect States against internal disturbance in the LWE context has been fulfilled — at least operationally.

Key Facts & Data

Origin of Naxalism: Naxalbari, West Bengal, May 25, 1967.
CPI (Maoist) formed: 2004 (merger of PWG and MCC).
Peak LWE-affected districts: 126 districts across 10 States (2014).
Districts by late 2025: 11.
Districts by March 2026: 0 (per MHA review).
New categories introduced: "Legacy and Thrust Districts" (37) and "District of Concern" (1 — West Singhbhum, Jharkhand).
States with which MHA communicated: 9 previously affected States.
SAMADHAN strategy launched: 2017.
Reduction in violence incidents: ~70% vs. 2013 peak.
Constitutional basis for Centre's role: Article 355 (duty to protect States against internal disturbance).
Statutory designation: CPI (Maoist) as terrorist organisation under UAPA.
Deadline met: March 31, 2026.