India Declared Effectively Free from Left-Wing Extremism
India achieved the historic milestone of becoming effectively free from Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 2026, with no district in the country remaining LWE-affected. This transformation was driven by an integrated strategy combining security operations, infrastructure expansion, rehabilitation of surrendered cadres, tribal welfare, and improved governance, which sharply reduced violence and restored state presence in remote regions.
Strategy and Policy Shift
The National Policy and Action Plan approved in 2015 replaced fragmented approaches with a structured, whole-of-government framework. It deployed Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), provided specialized training, and allocated funds through schemes like Security Related Expenditure (SRE), Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), and Special Central Assistance (SCA). Approximately ₹4,289.20 crore has been released under the SCA Scheme since 2017, ₹1,761 crore sanctioned under SIS for strengthening forces and constructing fortified police stations, and ₹3,805.04 crore released under the SRE Scheme from 2014-15 for operational needs, capacity building, rehabilitation, and ex gratia assistance.
Security Operations and Violence Reduction
The government implemented a 'Trace, Target, Neutralise' doctrine, leading to landmark operations such as Operation Black Forest, Operation Octopus, Operation Double Bull, Operation Thunderstorm, Operation Bhimbarg, and Operation Chakrabandha. These operations dismantled Maoist networks, with Operation Black Forest eliminating over 30 Maoists and triggering increased arrests and surrenders. Violence indicators show a dramatic decline: incidents fell from 1,936 in 2010 (peak) to 870 in 2014 and further to 33 in 2026 (as of 29 July 2026), while fatalities dropped from 1,005 in 2010 to 310 in 2014 and 11 in 2026. The number of LWE-affected districts decreased from 126 in 2014 to zero by March-April 2026.
Infrastructure and Connectivity Development
Infrastructure expansion included the construction of 15,189 kilometers of roads under the Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA). Digital connectivity was enhanced with 9,497 mobile towers commissioned, providing mobile coverage to 96% of villages (44,728 out of 46,592) in most affected areas. Financial inclusion efforts from April 2015 to March 2026 saw 1,804 bank branches opened, 1,321 ATMs installed, 74,720 banking correspondents appointed, and 6,025 post offices established.
Education, Skill Development, and Welfare
Education initiatives included the sanctioning of 259 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), with 179 made functional, alongside the development of 47 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 49 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) with an investment of nearly ₹800 crore. Skill training was provided to over 90,000 youth and women. The Tribal Youth Exchange Programme (TYEP) involved 37,655 tribal youth in exposure visits since 2014. Civic Action Programmes released ₹221.88 crore since 2014 for welfare activities like medical camps and sports competitions.
Rehabilitation and Surrender Policies
Rehabilitation policies offered surrendering cadres an immediate grant of ₹5 lakh for higher-ranked cadres and ₹2.5 lakh for others, plus a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 for 36 months, an additional ₹50,000 incentive for surrender (doubled for group surrenders), and extra compensation for depositing weapons. In 2025, 2,337 Naxalites surrendered, and between 2024 and March 2026, 3,927 cadres laid down their arms. Recent surrenders in July 2026 included 16 Maoists in Ranchi with 11 firearms and 1,562 rounds of ammunition, and eight more in Bijapur carrying a combined reward of ₹49 lakh, alongside the arrest of a top Maoist leader with a ₹1 crore reward.
Case Study: Chhattisgarh's Transformation
Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, once a Naxal stronghold, saw significant improvement through the Bastariya Battalion recruitment of 1,143 local youth, construction of over 3,240 kilometers of roads, and installation of 889 mobile towers. A dedicated rehabilitation plan for around 3,000 surrendered cadres was supported by an initial ₹20 crore allocation. Initiatives like Shaheed Veer Gunda Dhur Seva Dera transformed CAPF camps into service centers, and cultural events like Bastar Pandum and Bastar Olympics promoted community integration.
Financial Disruption and Legal Actions
A dedicated vertical in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) disrupted financing networks, seizing assets worth over ₹40 crore by December 2025. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached assets worth ₹12 crore, and state agencies confiscated ₹40 crore. By December 2025, 111 LWE cases were investigated with 98 charge sheets filed, and by June 2026, NIA cases reached 112 with 100 charge sheets filed.