**Policy Summary: Decline in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)**
This policy summary outlines the Government of India's (GoI) efforts to address Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in affected states, with a specific focus on Jharkhand. While law and order are primarily state responsibilities under the Constitution, the GoI supplements state efforts through a multi-pronged National Policy and Action Plan approved in 2015. This plan encompasses security measures, development interventions, and ensuring the rights of local communities.
**Security Measures:** The GoI supports LWE-affected states by providing Central Armed Police Forces, training, funds for police modernization, equipment, intelligence sharing, and construction of Fortified Police Stations. Since 2014-15, Rs. 3357 crore has been released to LWE-affected states under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme for operational expenses, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadres, and ex-gratia payments to families of civilians and security personnel killed in LWE violence. Additionally, Rs. 1740 crore has been sanctioned for strengthening State Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches (SIBs), District Police, and constructing 71 Fortified Police Stations under the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS).
**Development Initiatives:** Beyond national flagship schemes, specific initiatives focus on expanding road networks, improving telecommunication connectivity, education, skill development, and financial inclusion in LWE-affected areas. Key achievements include:
* **Road Connectivity:** Sanctioned 17,589 km of roads under the Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA), with 14,902 km constructed.
* **Telecom Connectivity:** Planned 10,644 mobile towers, with 8,640 commissioned.
* **Skill Development:** Approved 48 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 61 Skill Development Centers (SDCs), with 46 ITIs and 49 SDCs functional.
* **Education:** Sanctioned 258 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), with 179 functional.
* **Financial Inclusion:** The Department of Posts has opened 5899 Post Offices with banking services in LWE-affected districts. 1007 Bank Branches and 937 ATMs have been opened in Most LWE affected districts.
* **Critical Infrastructure:** Rs. 3,769 crore has been released since 2017 under the Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme to address critical infrastructure gaps in the most LWE-affected districts.
**Surrender and Rehabilitation:** The GoI supports state Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation policies, reimbursing expenses incurred on rehabilitating surrendered LWE cadres. The rehabilitation package includes an immediate grant of Rs. 5 lakhs for higher-ranked cadres and Rs. 2.5 lakhs for others, along with incentives for surrendering weapons. Training in preferred trades is also provided with a monthly stipend of Rs. 10,000 for three years.
**Impact and Outcomes:** The resolute implementation of the policy has led to a consistent decline in violence and a constriction of the geographical spread of LWE. LWE-related violence and resultant deaths have decreased by 81% and 85%, respectively, from their peak in 2010 to 2024. The number of LWE-affected districts has fallen from 126 in 2013 to 18 in April 2025.
**Jharkhand Specifics:** There has been considerable improvement in the LWE situation in Jharkhand. Violent incidents have reduced from 742 in 2009 to 69 in 2024. From January 1, 2024, to July 15, 2025, 103 LWE-related incidents were reported, resulting in 25 LWE cadres neutralized, 276 arrested, and 32 surrendered. The number of LWE-affected districts in Jharkhand has decreased from 21 in 2013 to 2 in 2025. Seven districts are categorized as Legacy Thrust Districts for continued support. Jharkhand has received Rs. 830.75 crore under the SRE scheme and Rs. 439.45 crore under the SIS scheme. 3,168 km of roads have been sanctioned under the RRP and RCPLWEA, with 2925 km constructed. 1755 mobile towers have been planned, with 1589 commissioned. 16 ITIs and 20 SDCs are functional. 47 EMRS are functional. 1240 Post Offices with banking services have been opened. 349 Bank Branches and 352 ATMs have been opened. Rs. 1439.33 crore has been released under the SCA scheme.
Improved law and order, security, and infrastructure investments have created an environment conducive to enhanced socioeconomic development in the region.
**Source:** Ministry of Home Affairs, Press Information Bureau Delhi, July 29, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The central government ministry responsible for internal security and policy matters.
Left Wing Extremism: Refers to extremist groups and movements, often Maoist insurgents, that use violence to challenge the authority of the state.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which defines the framework of political principles, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions.
National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE: A comprehensive strategy approved in 2015 to tackle Left Wing Extremism through security measures, development interventions, and ensuring rights of local communities.
Central Armed Police Forces: Paramilitary forces under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs, deployed to assist states in maintaining law and order and combating LWE.
Jharkhand: A state in eastern India significantly affected by Left Wing Extremism.
Security Related Expenditure: A scheme under which the central government provides funds to LWE-affected states for operational expenditure, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre, and ex-gratia payments.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools: Schools established by the Government of India to provide quality education to tribal children in remote areas, including those affected by LWE.
Ministry of Home Affairs
DECLINE IN LEFT-WING EXTREMISM
Posted On: 29 JUL 2025 5:08PM by PIB Delhi
As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and Public Order are with the
State Governments. However, the Government of India (GoI) has been supplementing the efforts of States
affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). To address the LWE problem holistically, a “National Policy
and Action Plan to address LWE” was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving
security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local
communities etc.
On security front, the GoI assists the LWE affected State Government by providing Central Armed Police
Forces battalions, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of
intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc;
Since 2014-15,
Rs.3357 crore (Jharkhand - Rs. 830.75 crore) have been released to LWE affected states, for operational
(cid:108)
expenditure of forces, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre, ex-gratia to families of civilians killed in
LWE violence/martyred security force personnel etc. under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme.
Works of Rs. 1740 crore (Rs. 439.45 crore – Jharkhand) have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for
(cid:108)
strengthening of State’s Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches (SIBs), District Police and
Construction of 71 Fortified Police Stations (FPS) under Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS).
On development front, apart from the flagship schemes of Government of India (GoI), several LWE
affected areas, specific initiatives have been taken with special thrust on expansion of road network,
improving telecommunication connectivity, education, skill development and financial inclusion. A few of
these are enumerated below:
For expansion of road network, 17,589 km (Jharkhand – 3,168 km) have been sanctioned under 02 LWE
(cid:108)
specific schemes namely Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE
Affected Areas (RCPLWEA). Of these, 14,902 km, (including 2925 km in Jharkhand), have been
constructed.For improving telecom connectivity in LWE affected areas, 10,644 mobile towers
(Jharkhand - 1755) have been planned, of which 8,640 towers, (including 1589 Towers in Jharkhand),
have been commissioned.
For Skill Development, 48 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and 61 Skill Development Centres (SDCs)
(cid:108)
have been approved. Of these, 46 ITI (Jharkhand – 16) and 49 SDCs (Jharkhand – 20) are functional.
For quality education in tribal areas 258 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are sanctioned, of
(cid:108)
which 179 EMRS (Jharkhand - 47) are functional.
For Financial Inclusion, department of Posts has opened 5899 Post Offices (Jharkhand - 1240 ) with
(cid:108)
banking services in LWE affected districts. 1007 Bank Branches (Jharkhand - 349) & 937 ATMs
(Jharkhand - 352) have been opened in Most LWE affected districts.For further impetus to development, funds are provided for filling critical gaps in public infrastructure in
(cid:108)
Most LWE affected Districts, under Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme. Till now, Rs. 3,769 crore
have been released since the inception of Scheme in 2017. Of this, Rs. 1439.33 crore has been released to
Jharkhand.
To encourage Left Wing Extremists to join the mainstream, States have their own Surrender cum
Rehabilitation policies. GoI also support the States in the endeavour through ‘Surrender-cum-
Rehabilitation’ Policy and reimburses the expenditure incurred by the LWE affected States on rehabilitation
of surrendered cadre. The rehabilitation package inter-alia, includes an immediate grant of Rs. 5 lakhs for
higher ranked LWE cadres and Rs.2.5 lakhs for other LWE cadres. In addition, incentives for surrender of
weapons/ ammunition are also provided under the Scheme. In addition, provision also exists for imparting
training in trade/ vocation of their liking with monthly stipend of Rs. 10000/- for three years. States have
also been encouraged to adopt attractive Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies.
The resolute implementation of the policy has resulted in consistent decline in violence and constriction of
geographical spread. The LWE related violence incidents and resultant deaths of civilians & Security Forces,
have come down from high of 2010 by 81% and 85% respectively in 2024. There has also been a sharp
decline in LWE affected districts from 126 in 2013 to 18 districts in April 2025.
As regards to Jharkhand, there has been considerable improvement in LWE scenario. The number of LWE
perpetrated violent incidents in Jharkhand reduced by 92% from a high of 742 incidents in 2009 to 69
incidents in 2024. From 1st January, 2024 to 15th July, 2025, 103 LWE related violent incidents were
reported in Jharkhand in which 25 LWE cadres were neutralized, 276 were arrested and 32 surrendered. The
LWE affected districts in Jharkhand have also reduced from 21 in 2013 to only 02 in 2025. However, 07
districts are categorized as Legacy & Thrust Districts, for continued support to the districts taken out of LWE
influence.
Improved law & order and security situation, accompanied by investment in infrastructure has created an
enabling environment for enhanced socio-economic development.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written
reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
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VV/RR/HS/PS/PR
(Release ID: 2149786)