What is the common examiner trap about Security & Defence in UPSC exams?

Confusing the 'Red Corridor' with other regional groupings like the 'Hindi Heartland' or 'North-East Region'. Asking about the number of 'Most Affected' districts (3) vs. 'LWE Affected' districts (7) vs. 'Legacy Thrust' districts (31).

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Security & Defence for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: LWE-affected districts reduced from ~200 (early 2000s) to 38 (2025). 2. Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the nodal ministry for internal security and LWE policy. 3. Target this Policy: The 'Clear, Hold, Develop' strategy for counter-insurgency.

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News 8 of 30

Maoist Insurgency Declines: LWE-Affected Districts Fall to 38, 15,000 km Roads Built Under 'Clear, Hold, Develop' Strategy

Q: Which ministry is the nodal agency for formulating and implementing policies related to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India?

Ministry of Home Affairs, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the nodal ministry for India's internal security, including counter-insurgency operations and policy against Left Wing Extremism (LWE). The article mentions the MHA's strategy and its February 2026 review of LWE-affected districts.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the decline of Maoist insurgency in India: 1. The number of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts has shrunk from nearly 200 in the early 2000s to just 38 by the end of 2025. 2. The 'Clear, Hold, Develop' strategy was first formulated and implemented by the Narendra Modi government after 2014. 3. As per a February 2026 review, only three districts—Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Sukma—are now categorised as 'Most Affected' by LWE. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article states the comprehensive strategy was developed by the MHA under P. Chidambaram (UPA government), and the Modi government continued it with minor tweaks. Statement 3 is correct as mentioned in the article.

Q: According to the article, approximately how many kilometres of roads have been built to take forces deep into the forested interiors of central India as part of the counter-LWE strategy?

Over 15,000 km, The article explicitly states that 'Over 15,000 km of roads have been built to take forces deep into forested interiors of central India' as part of the infrastructure push to counter Maoist influence. This is a key data point highlighting the state's developmental approach.

Q: What is identified as the primary future challenge after the security decline of the Maoist insurgency, according to the analysis in the article?

Turning the security victory into durable legitimacy by filling the governance vacuum., The article emphasizes that the next phase tests whether the Indian state can 'turn a hard-won security victory into durable legitimacy.' The core challenge is to replace insurgent structures with effective, visible state governance—functional schools, health centres, and grievance redress—to prevent new forms of alienation or criminality in the vacuum left by Maoists.

Security & Defence PolityHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

26 Feb 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:LWE districts: 38 (2025)Roads built: Over 15,000 kmMobile towers: Over 9,000Police stations fortified: 656New security camps: Nearly 200LWE incidents/deaths down by over four-fifths since 2010

Bodies:Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)CRPF

Practice MCQs from today's news ▸

~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.The surrender of Politburo member Thippiri Tirupathi (Devuji) signifies a major blow to CPI (Maoist) leadership, reflecting the terminal decline of the armed movement.

2.A comprehensive 'clear, hold, develop' strategy since 2006, involving over 15,000 km of roads and 9,000 mobile towers, has reduced LWE-affected districts from ~200 to 38 by 2025.

3.The future challenge is to replace insurgent influence with effective state governance in 'Legacy Thrust' districts to prevent new forms of alienation or criminality.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

The surrender of top CPI (Maoist) leader Devuji marks a significant decline in India's Left Wing Extremism (LWE). The state's multi-pronged strategy of security, infrastructure, and governance has shrunk the conflict zone from 200 districts to just 38. The critical challenge now is to fill the governance vacuum left by the insurgents to prevent a resurgence.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

LWE-Affected Districts (2025)38

LWE-Affected Districts (Early 2000s)Nearly 200

Roads Built in LWE AreasOver 15,000 km

Mobile Towers InstalledOver 9,000

Fortified Police Stations656

New Security Camps in Core ZonesNearly 200

Current 'Most Affected' Districts3 (Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sukma)

Legacy Thrust Districts31

1-Minute Revision

›LWE-Affected Districts (2025): 38
›LWE-Affected Districts (Early 2000s): Nearly 200
›Target this Data: LWE-affected districts reduced from ~200 (early 2000s) to 38 (2025).
›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the nodal ministry for internal security and LWE policy.
›Target this Policy: The 'Clear, Hold, Develop' strategy for counter-insurgency.

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News Snapshot

📉

Strategic Collapse

The Maoist insurgency has collapsed due to attrition of leadership and a state strategy of 'clear, hold, develop' since 2006.

🛣️

Infrastructure Push

Over 15,000 km of roads and 9,000 mobile towers have been built to penetrate and connect remote Maoist-affected forest areas.

⚖️

Governance Vacuum

The key future challenge is to fill the governance vacuum left by Maoists with effective state delivery to prevent a relapse.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The Maoist (Naxalite) movement originated from the 1967 Naxalbari uprising, framing India as 'semi-feudal, semi-colonial'. It spread across the 'Red Corridor' by exploiting structural issues like failed land reforms, displacement, and the absence of state governance among Adivasis and Dalits. In 2006, the government officially declared it India's 'single biggest internal security threat'.

Core Analysis & Implications

The state's victory is attributed to a dual squeeze: top-down attrition of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee through killings/arrests/surrenders, and bottom-up tactical innovations like district reserve forces and local police auxiliaries. The 'clear, hold, develop' approach involved massive CAPF deployment, building camps to hold territory, and following with civil administration. This has reduced LWE incidents and deaths by over four-fifths since 2010.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

The risk is not a guerrilla army's return but new criminality or alienation in the vacuum. The MHA has identified 31 'Legacy Thrust' districts for continued security and development support. The transition requires replacing external security footprints with rooted local institutions—functional schools, health centres, and grievance redress—staffed by locals. Political will is crucial to ensure governance delivery outpaces any residual insurgent appeal.

Can Maoism Rise Again?

Experts argue the classic Maoist model is 'dead' as roads, phones, and social media have broken information monopolies and raised aspirations. The movement failed to attract educated youth for decades. Future radicalism is likely to be more diffuse, issue-based (land, environment, work), and urban, borrowing far-left vocabulary but not necessarily resorting to armed violence.

Key Facts at a Glance

LWE-Affected Districts (2025)38

LWE-Affected Districts (Early 2000s)Nearly 200

Roads Built in LWE AreasOver 15,000 km

Mobile Towers InstalledOver 9,000

Fortified Police Stations656

New Security Camps in Core ZonesNearly 200

Current 'Most Affected' Districts3 (Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sukma)

Legacy Thrust Districts31

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, State PSC

Which ministry is the nodal agency for formulating and implementing policies related to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, State PSC

Consider the following statements regarding the decline of Maoist insurgency in India:

1. The number of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts has shrunk from nearly 200 in the early 2000s to just 38 by the end of 2025.

2. The 'Clear, Hold, Develop' strategy was first formulated and implemented by the Narendra Modi government after 2014.

3. As per a February 2026 review, only three districts—Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Sukma—are now categorised as 'Most Affected' by LWE.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, SSC

According to the article, approximately how many kilometres of roads have been built to take forces deep into the forested interiors of central India as part of the counter-LWE strategy?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, State PSC

What is identified as the primary future challenge after the security decline of the Maoist insurgency, according to the analysis in the article?

All 25 MCQs ▸

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Maoist Insurgency Declines: LWE-Affected Districts Fall to 38, 15,000 km Roads Built Under 'Clear, Hold, Develop' Strategy

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Strategic Collapse

Infrastructure Push

Governance Vacuum

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Can Maoism Rise Again?

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance