Parliament Question: Progress in Curbing Naxalism

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2591 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 25, 1947

(SAKA) PROGRESS IN CURBING NAXALISM

2591. SMT. SHAMBHAVI:

SHRI ATUL GARG:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the progress achieved by the Government in reducing Naxal-related violence and area influence in recent years;

(b) the role and operational contributions of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Naxal-affected regions, particularly in strengthening security dominance and preventing regrouping of extremist elements;

(c) whether the Government has set specific targets or milestones for achieving a Naxalism-free nation by 31st March 2026, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefore;

(d) the strategy adopted to enhance coordination among Central Armed Police Forces, State Police and intelligence agencies; and

(e) the measures being taken to expand development, connectivity and welfare interventions in regions historically affected by Left Wing Extremism? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e):

(i) As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and Public Order are with the State Governments. However, the Government-2- L.S.US.Q.NO. 2591 FOR 16.12.2025 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. 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 LWE perpetrated violence incidents have come down from high of 1936 in year 2010 by 89% to 222 in 2025.

Resultant deaths of Civilians & Security Forces have also come down from high of 1005 in year 2010 by 91% to 95 in year 2025. The number of LWE- affected districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April-2018, 70 in July-2021, 38 in April-2024, 18 in April-2025 and only 11 in October-2025 with only 3 districts now categorized as Most LWE Affected. The government’s focus on development in tribal and remote areas has addressed the root cause of Naxalism. Improved law and order and security situation, accompanied by investment in infrastructure has created an enabling environment for enhanced economic development including increase in public/private investment.-3- L.S.US.Q.NO. 2591 FOR 16.12.2025

(ii) To strengthen the security apparatus of the states, GoI provides Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including Border Security Force (BSF) to the states, as per their operational needs. The CAPFs have the responsibility of holding the counter-insurgency grid together, operating seamlessly in coordination with the state police forces. CAPFs alongside State Police have contributed immensely in the success achieved in eradicating the menace of naxalism to a great extent.

(iii) On security front, GoI also provides helicopter support, strengthening of camp infrastructure, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations and sanctioning of India Reserve Battalions etc.

- For capacity building of states since 2014-15, Rs.3523.48 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 civilians killed in LWE violence/martyred security force personnel etc. under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. Works of Rs. 1757 crore have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for strengthening of State’s Special Forces, State Intelligence-4- L.S.US.Q.NO. 2591 FOR 16.12.2025 Branches (SIBs), District Police and construction of Fortified Police Stations (FPS) under Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS).

- To encourage LWEs to join the mainstream, 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 “Assistance to States & UTs for Modernization of Police”. Under the scheme, central-5- L.S.US.Q.NO. 2591 FOR 16.12.2025 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.

- 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.

- The GoI’s focus on security infrastructure has been pivotal. In the last decade 656 fortified police stations have been built. In last six years 377 new security camps have been established in core LWE affected areas.

(iv) 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:-6- L.S.US.Q.NO. 2591 FOR 16.12.2025 - For expansion of road network, 14,987 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 9,118 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. 3,912.98 crore have been released since the inception of Scheme in 2017.

(v) GoI is committed for complete eradication of LWE from our country as well as holistic development of areas getting freed from Left Wing Extremism. ********