Govt Informs Rajya Sabha India Has Zero Naxal-Affected Districts Left

The Union Government informed the Rajya Sabha that there are no longer any Naxal-affected districts in the country, marking a monumental milestone in national security. Minister of State for Home Affairs highlighted that after nearly six decades of violent left-wing extremism (LWE), India has effectively dismantled the territorial strongholds of Maoist insurgents across all affected states.

Left Wing Extremism originated in 1967 in Naxalbari, West Bengal, and expanded into a Red Corridor across ten states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Over the past decade, the Ministry of Home Affairs deployed a multi-pronged strategy combining security operations, infrastructure development, and community welfare programs such as the Security Related Expenditure scheme and SAMADHAN framework to systematically neutralize LWE networks.

Key security metrics show a dramatic reduction in LWE incidents, down by over 70 percent compared to peak years. Operational initiatives like the creation of fortified police stations, specialized units like CoBRA, and focused road requirement plans contributed to reclaiming insurgency hotbeds such as Abujhmad and Swabhiman Anchal.

For civil services aspirants, this development is crucial for Internal Security (GS Paper III) and Polity (GS Paper II). Potential questions could focus on the SAMADHAN strategy, developmental vs security approaches in counter-insurgency, and the role of central armed police forces in restoring constitutional order.