Page 17 - NIS English 16-30 April, 2026

From the ‘Red Corridor’ to a Naxal-Free India (2014–2026)

The Central Government’s strategy—centered on security, infrastructure development, dismantling Naxal
financial networks, and a surrender policy has yielded positive results. Left-Wing Extremism (LWE),
commonly known as Naxalism, was one of India’s most formidable internal security challenges. With
the assistance of the Central Government and the affected state governments, these regions have now been
declared Naxal-free. Efforts undertaken to liberate the nation from Naxalism…

National Policy and Action Plan – 2015
n To eradicate the problem of Naxalism at its roots, the ‘National
Policy and Action Plan to Deal with LWE’ was approved in ₹3681.73
2015. This framework focused on various strategies, including
security-related measures, developmental activities, and ensuring
the rights and entitlements of local communities. crore was released to LWE-

n In LWE-affected states, the Central Government undertook affected states to enhance
measures such as the deployment of Central Armed Police the capacity of the states,
Forces, the establishment of India Reserve Battalions, provision under the Security Related
of helicopter support, police training and modernization, Expenditure (SRE) Scheme
and the supply of necessary funds, arms, and equipment;
additionally, provisions were made for intelligence sharing and since 2014-15
the construction of fortified police stations.

Naxalite violence. In comparison, the country’s two
other hotspots Kashmir and the Northeast saw 1 Since 2014, our government has launched
per cent of the landmass plagued by terrorism and a massive offensive against Naxalite-
3.3 per cent by general unrest, respectively. Against Maoist terror. We have neutralized the
this backdrop, starting in 2014, under the leadership ‘Urban Naxals’ and their supporters who
of Prime Minister Modi, the central government operated from within our cities; we have
initiated a comprehensive strategy focusing on three
key pillars: dialogue, security, and coordination. In won the ideological battle; and we have
this regard, the period from 2014 to 2026 is poised confronted the Naxals head-on within
to be etched in the history of India’s internal security their very strongholds. The results of
as a “Golden Era.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah these efforts are evident to the entire
has stated on multiple occasions: “We will undoubt- nation today.
edly succeed in freeing the entire country of Naxalite
violence by March 31, 2026.” In this same direction, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

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