**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to starred question number 58 in Lok Sabha concerning the progress towards achieving a Naxal-free India by March 31, 2026. The document highlights the Government of India's (GoI) efforts in supplementing state efforts to combat Left Wing Extremism (LWE) through a multi-pronged strategy since the approval of the National Policy and Action Plan in 2015. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs laid a statement on the Table of the House, detailing specific measures and outcomes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Constitutional Context**
* Police and Public Order are state subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
* The GoI supplements state efforts against LWE.
* **National Policy and Action Plan (2015)**
* Envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security measures, development interventions, and ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities.
* **Security Measures**
* Assistance to LWE-affected states includes Central Armed Police Forces, India Reserve Battalions, helicopter support, and modernization of state police forces.
* Since 2014-15, Rs. 3681.73 crore released to LWE affected states under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme.
* **Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy**
* GoI supports states in implementing surrender-cum-rehabilitation policies.
* Rehabilitation package includes grants (Rs. 5 lakhs for higher-ranked LWE cadres, Rs. 2.5 lakhs for other cadres), incentives for weapons, and stipends for vocational training (Rs. 10,000/- per month for three years).
* **Modernization of Police Forces**
* Central assistance for weapons, IT, communication, training, and infrastructure.
* Rs. 1761 crore sanctioned for state special forces, intelligence branches, district police, and Fortified Police Stations (FPS).
* 656 fortified police stations have been built.
* **Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management (ACALWEMS)**
* Support for camps and helicopters for counter-LWE operations.
* Rs.1224.59 Crores has been provided to Central Agencies through this scheme since 2014-15.
* **Financial Measures**
* Focus on choking LWE finances and their supporters.
* Coordinated actions by state police with central agencies.
* **Development Initiatives**
* Specific initiatives in LWE-affected areas focus on road network expansion (15,016 km constructed under RRP and RCPLWEA), telecom connectivity (9,233 towers commissioned), skill development (46 ITIs and 49 SDCs opened), and education (179 Eklavya Model Residential Schools functional).
* Department of Posts has opened 6,025 Post Offices with banking services, and 1804 bank branches and 1321 ATMs in most LWE-affected districts.
* **Special Central Assistance (SCA) Scheme**
* Rs. 3,953.67 crore released since 2017 for critical infrastructure gaps in most LWE-affected districts.
* **Progress in Reducing LWE**
* National Policy and Action Plan 2015 resulted in a decline in violence and geographical spread.
* LWE-affected districts reduced from 126 in 2018 to 8 in December 2025 (3 most LWE-affected).
* LWE violence incidents reduced by 88% from 2010 (1936 incidents) to 2025 (234 incidents). Resultant deaths also reduced.
* In 2025, security forces neutralized 364 Naxals, arrested 1022, and facilitated 2337 surrenders.
* Police stations reporting LWE violence reduced from 465 in 2010 to 119 in 2025.
* **Commitment**
* GoI is committed to the complete eradication of LWE and the holistic development of affected areas.
**Impact Analysis**
**Key Stakeholders Impacted**
* **State Governments (LWE Affected)**
**Impact:** Affected states receive support from the GoI to combat LWE.
**Action Required:** Implement GoI policies, utilize funds effectively, and revise Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies.
* **Security Forces**
**Impact:** Security forces benefit from modernization, training, and infrastructure improvements.
**Action Required:** Conduct coordinated operations against LWE elements and provide security in affected regions.
* **LWE Cadres**
**Impact:** LWE cadres are offered opportunities for surrender and rehabilitation.
**Action Required:** Consider surrendering and participating in the rehabilitation programs.
* **Local Communities in LWE-Affected Areas**
**Impact:** These communities benefit from development initiatives and improved security.
**Action Required:** Cooperate with authorities and participate in development programs.
Key Entities Referenced
National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE: A comprehensive plan approved in 2015 to address Left Wing Extremism, encompassing security and development initiatives.
Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: A scheme to reimburse LWE affected states for expenditure incurred on rehabilitation of surrenderees.
Left Wing Extremism (LWE): The primary subject of the document is about the government initiatives to counter and eradicate Left Wing Extremism.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The central government ministry primarily responsible for internal security, including matters related to LWE.
State Governments: The state governments that are primarily responsible for Police and Public Order.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *58
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 14, 1947 (SAKA)
NAXAL FREE INDIA
†*58. SHRI RAMESH AWASTHI:
SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether improved inter-State coordination and periodic leadership-level
reviews on time to time basis have accelerated progress towards achieving
the goal of a Naxal-free India by 31 March, 2026;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any data on Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
affected districts and shortfalls in police station coverage and if so, the
details thereof up to December, 2025, State and year-wise including States
of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh;
(d) whether the Government has the details on the surrender, arrest and
successful rehabilitation of former LWE cadres, particularly in the said
States; and
(e) if so, the details thereof up to December, 2025, State and year-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.-2-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *58 FOR 03.02.2026
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION
No. *58 FOR 03.02.2026
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 menace 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.
(i) On security front, the GoI assists the LWE affected State Government
by providing Central Armed Police Forces and raising of India Reserve
Battalions, helicopter support, strengthening of security camp infrastructure,
training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms,
sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc.
• For capacity building of states since 2014-15, Rs. 3681.73 crore have
been released to LWE affected states on operational expenditure and
training needs of Security Forces, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE
cadre, ex-gratia to families of martyred security force
personnel/civilians killed in LWE violence etc. under Security Related
Expenditure (SRE) scheme.-3-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *58 FOR 03.02.2026
• GoI and State Governments have formulated comprehensive surrender-
cum-rehabilitation policies. The GoI also supports the States in the
endeavor through ‘Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation’ Policy as part of
Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme. The GoI reimburses the
expenditure incurred by the LWE affected States on rehabilitation of
surrenderees under the SRE Scheme. 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. 10,000/- for
three years. The affected States have further revised their Surrender
cum Rehabilitation policies to make them lucrative and contemporary.
• The efforts of the States for equipping and modernizing their police
forces have been supplemented under the scheme of “Modernization of
Police Forces”. Under the scheme, central assistance is provided to the
State Governments for weapons, equipment for Information Technology,
Communication, Training, construction of Police stations, mobility and
construction of police housing and other police infrastructure etc.
Under its sub scheme i.e. Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), works of-4-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *58 FOR 03.02.2026
Rs. 1761 crore have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for
strengthening of State’s Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches
(SIBs), District Police and construction of Fortified Police Stations
(FPS). The GoI’s focus on security infrastructure has been pivotal. So far
656 fortified police stations have been built.
• Under Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management
(ACALWEMS) Scheme, assistance is provided for basic structure of
camps and for provisioning of helicopters for counter LWE operations.
Rs.1224.59 Crores has been provided to Central Agencies through this
scheme since 2014-15.
• There has been a special focus on the financial choking of LWEs and
unearthing of the nexus between CPI (Maoists) and its financial
supporters. For effective action towards choking of funds and other
resources to LWE, coordinated actions are being taken by State Police
in cooperation with Central agencies by various means.
(ii) 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:-5-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *58 FOR 03.02.2026
• For expansion of road network, 15,016 km have been constructed under
02 LWE specific schemes namely Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and
Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA).
• For improving telecom connectivity in LWE affected areas 9,233 towers
have been commissioned.
• For Skill Development, 46 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and 49 Skill
Development Centres (SDC) have been opened.
• For quality education in tribal areas 179 Eklavya Model Residential
Schools (EMRS) have been made functional.
• For financial inclusion, Department of Posts has opened 6,025 Post
Offices with banking services in LWE affected districts. 1804 Bank
Branches and 1321 ATMs have been opened in Most LWE affected
districts.
• For further impetus to development, funds are provided for filling critical
gaps in public infrastructure in Most LWE affected Districts under
Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme. Till now, Rs. 3,953.67 crore
have been released since the inception of Scheme in 2017.-6-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *58 FOR 03.02.2026
(iii) The resolute implementation of the ‘National Policy and Action Plan
2015’ has resulted in consistent decline in violence and constriction of
geographical spread. LWE which has been a serious challenge to the internal
security of the nation has been significantly curbed in the recent times and
has been constricted to only a few pockets. The number of LWE-affected
districts reduced from 126 in 2018 to only 08 in December-2025 with only 3
districts now remaining Most LWE Affected.
The LWE perpetrated violence incidents have come down from high of 1936
in year 2010 by 88% to 234 in 2025. Resultant deaths of Civilians & Security
Forces have also come down from high of 1005 in year 2010 by 90% to 100 in
year 2025.
In 2025, security forces have neutralized 364 Naxals, arrested 1022 and
facilitated 2337 surrenders. State-wise and year-wise details of LWEs
arrested and surrendered are given at Annexure I.
The number of Police Stations reporting LWE related violence has
significantly reduced from 465 Police Stations in 2010 to 119 Police Stations
in the year 2025. State-wise and year-wise number of districts and police
stations reporting LWE related violence are given at Annexure II.
(iv) GoI is committed for complete eradication of LWE from our country as
well as holistic development of areas getting freed from Left Wing Extremism.
******ANNEXURE I
L.S.S.Q.NO. *58 FOR 03.02.2026
Achievements in Counter LWE Operations
Year LWEs Arrested LWEs Surrendered
2019 1276 440
2020 1110 475
2021 1153 736
2022 816 496
2023 924 376
2024 1090 881
2025 1022 2337
2026 (15th Jan) 18 139
Total 7409 5880ANNEXURE II
L.S.S.Q.NO. *58 FOR 03.02.2026
No. of districts and Police Stations/PSs reporting
LWE Perpetrated Violence
Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
(till Jan. 29)
Districts PSs Districts PSs Districts PSs Districts PSs Districts PSs Districts PSs Districts PSs Districts PSs
Andhra 2 7 2 7 2 6 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 4 0 0
Pradesh
Bihar 14 30 7 23 5 13 6 11 1 4 2 2 3 4 0 0
Chhattisgarh 12 85 12 78 11 76 12 75 12 80 12 60 10 52 3 9
Jharkhand 16 80 16 70 13 56 16 58 15 60 13 52 11 36 2 2
Karnataka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Kerala 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 0
Madhya 2 2 2 8 2 10 1 7 1 5 2 7 2 9 0 0
Pradesh
Maharashtra 2 12 1 8 2 8 1 4 2 6 1 11 1 5 0 0
Odisha 8 22 8 21 9 20 7 15 7 10 7 10 3 7 0 0
Telangana 3 5 4 9 2 2 2 3 1 2 2 6 1 2 0 0
Total 61 245 53 226 46 191 46 176 42 171 42 151 32 119 5 11