Government declares India free of Naxalism after six decades of conflict

The Government of India announced on Friday that the country has become effectively free of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), marking what it described as a major milestone in internal security. According to the government, this achievement was reached on March 31, 2026, after decades of insurgency-related violence in several states.

The government attributed the outcome to sustained efforts over the past 12 years, combining security operations, development initiatives, welfare programmes and rehabilitation measures. An official statement noted that technology-driven interventions, including improved intelligence gathering, surveillance and inter-agency coordination, played a key role. Authorities said these measures led to a decline in violence, encouraged surrenders, and improved access to infrastructure and public services in affected areas.

Left-Wing Extremism, which traces its origins to the Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal in 1967, has been a significant challenge in remote and tribal regions of India for nearly six decades. The movement drew inspiration from Maoist ideology and the concept of armed revolution. Over time, several extremist groups merged under the banner of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004, which became the principal face of the insurgency.

Official data show that the period between 2004 and 2014 was among the most violent phases of the conflict. Violence peaked in 2010, with 1,936 incidents recorded and 720 civilians killed. During that decade, there were 17,542 incidents of violence, resulting in the deaths of 1,913 security personnel and 5,019 civilians.

The government noted that earlier responses to the insurgency were often fragmented, with states pursuing different approaches. In 2009, the Centre described Naxalism as the country's biggest internal security challenge, citing its geographical spread across large parts of central and eastern India.

When the current government assumed office in May 2014, the Red Corridor remained a major security concern. The government said that earlier strategies largely focused on containing incidents rather than addressing underlying issues related to security, governance and development. Subsequently, a broader strategy was adopted that integrated security measures with development projects, welfare interventions, improved infrastructure, intelligence-led operations and rehabilitation schemes for surrendered cadres.

Minister Rai stated, 'India has become completely free of Naxalism as of April 2026,' highlighting that this achievement is the result of a sustained, zero-tolerance strategy against extremism. The declaration made on March 31, 2026, reflects the government's assessment that Left-Wing Extremism no longer poses the scale of threat it once did.