The Final Push: Eradicating Left Wing Extremism by 2026: UPSC Current Affairs Story Arc

Overview

This arc tracks the Indian government's decisive final offensive against the decades-old Maoist insurgency. By combining a lucrative new rehabilitation policy in Chhattisgarh with high-intensity kinetic operations, the state has neutralized the top Maoist leadership (Basavaraju) and triggered mass surrenders. The strategy aims to shrink the 'Red Corridor' to zero by early 2026, focusing on the last three bastions: Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur. While domestic security metrics show unprecedented success, international bodies like the UN's CERD have raised alarms over the human cost, specifically regarding Adivasi rights and alleged aerial operations, creating a tension between national security goals and international human rights standards.

How This Story Evolved

Rehabilitation policy approved (Item 6) → 2026 Deadline set (Item 2) → Top leader killed (Item 4) → Mass surrenders and district reduction (Items 20, 10, 9) → UN invokes warning mechanism citing the crackdown (Items 5, 1)

1. 2025-03-13: Chhattisgarh Approves Rehabilitation Policy for Maoists
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Chhattisgarh approves rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists.

   Key Facts:

   • New rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists approved
   • Policy includes financial aid, education, employment, and security
   • Chief Minister: Vishnu Deo Sai
2. 2025-04-02: Left Wing Extremism Eradication Target
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Government aims to eradicate Left Wing Extremism by March 31, 2026.

   Key Facts:

   • India's target: Eradicate LWE by March 31, 2026.
   • Districts Affected by LWE: Reduced from 38 to 18.
   • Most-affected districts: Down from 12 to 6, mainly in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand.
3. 2025-05-22: Killing of Maoist Leader Basavaraju in Chhattisgarh
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Maoist leader Basavaraju killed in Chhattisgarh, a critical moment in LWE.

   Key Facts:

   • Basavaraju was the CPI (Maoist) General Secretary.
   • 26 cadres were killed along with Basavaraju in Chhattisgarh.
   • 219 LWE cadres killed since December 2023.
   • Basavaraju was a key strategist in the 2010 Dantewada massacre and 2013 Jiram Ghati ambush.
   • Chhattisgarh aims to become Maoist-free by March 2026.
   • Reforms initiated under Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) and Mission Suvidha.
4. 2025-10-15: India's LWE-affected districts reduced
   More details

   UPSC Angle: LWE-affected districts reduced; Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur remain.

   Key Facts:

   • Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
   • Union Home Ministry
   • Bijapur
   • Sukma
   • Narayanpur
   • Chhattisgarh
5. 2025-10-18: Mass surrender by 210 Maoists in Chhattisgarh
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Mass surrender by 210 Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

   Key Facts:

   • 210 Maoists
   • Chhattisgarh
6. 2025-12-01: 60th All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police
   More details

   UPSC Angle: 60th All India Conference of DGPs/IGPs theme: 'Viksit Bharat: Security Dimension'.

   Key Facts:

   • Held on 28-30 November
   • Location: Raipur, Chhattisgarh
   • Theme: 'Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions'
7. 2025-12-15: Near-Elimination of Left Wing Extremism
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Near-elimination of Left Wing Extremism.

   Key Facts:

   • LWE-affected districts reduced from 126 (2014) to 11 (2025)
   • Most-affected districts down from 36 to 3
   • Target: Naxal-free India by March 2026
   • NIA anti-Naxal vertical
   • NIA asset seizures: ₹40+ crore
   • States asset seizures: ₹40+ crore
   • ED attachments: ₹12 crore
8. 2026-01-11: UN Raises Concerns over Discrimination and Violence in India
   More details

   UPSC Angle: UN raises concerns over discrimination and violence in India.

   Key Facts:

   • CERD invoked early warning mechanism due to reports of systemic discrimination and violence in India
   • Concerns over security, citizenship, and conservation policies violating ICERD
   • Counter-insurgency operations in Bastar led to "unprecedented violence," with at least 500 Adivasi individuals reportedly killed between January 2024 and October 2025
   • Five incidents of aerial bombing by security forces targeting villages and forests between 2021 and 2025 were flagged
9. 2026-02-03: UN Raises Concerns about Discrimination and Violence in India
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Not exam-relevant

   Key Facts:

   • CERD invoked its early warning and urgent action mechanism regarding India
   • Concerns raised about security, citizenship, and conservation policies
   • Since January 2024, counter-insurgency operations aimed at eliminating non-state armed groups by March 2026 have led to "unprecedented violence," with at least 500 Adivasi individuals, including civilians, reportedly killed between January 2024 and October 2025
   • Five incidents of aerial bombing by security forces targeting villages and forests between 2021 and 2025, and the establishment of more than 300 security bases on ancestral lands since 2019

Genesis

Trigger

On March 13, 2025, the Chhattisgarh Government approved a landmark Rehabilitation Policy for Maoists, providing guaranteed financial aid, education, and employment to surrenderers.

Why Now

The government identified a window of opportunity as Maoist leadership aged and the recruitment base shrunk; setting a firm March 2026 deadline was designed to synchronize state and central resources for a 'finish line' effect.

Historical Context

Connects to the 'SAMADHAN' strategy launched in 2017 and the decades-long conflict in the Bastar region, which has been the epicenter of Naxalism since the late 1960s.

Key Turning Points

1. [2025-05-22] Killing of CPI (Maoist) General Secretary Basavaraju

   It removed the movement's primary strategist responsible for the 2010 Dantewada massacre, leading to a collapse in cadre morale.

   Before: Maoists maintained a cohesive command structure. After: Shift to mass surrenders (210 in one day) and loss of strategic depth.

2. [2025-12-15] PIB report of reduction to 11 affected districts

   Statistically validated the 'near-elimination' claim, moving the goalposts from containment to total eradication.

   Before: LWE was a widespread regional threat. After: Confined to 3 'most-affected' districts in Chhattisgarh.

Key Actors and Institutions

Key Institutions

• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
• Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UN CERD)
• National Investigation Agency (NIA)
• CPI (Maoist)

Key Concepts

Left Wing Extremism (LWE)

An ideology that seeks to overthrow the state through armed revolution, typically supported by marginalized rural/tribal populations over land and resource grievances.

Current Fact: Affected districts reduced from 126 in 2014 to just 11 in late 2025.

SAMADHAN Strategy

The MHA's multi-pronged approach involving Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based KPIs, Harnessing technology, Action plan for each theater, and No access to financing.

Current Fact: The NIA has seized over ₹40 crore in LWE assets as part of the 'No access to financing' pillar.

Early Warning and Urgent Action Mechanism

A UN CERD procedure aimed at preventing existing problems from escalating into conflicts or responding to urgent situations where convention rights are being violated.

Current Fact: Invoked in January 2026 citing 'unprecedented violence' and 'aerial bombing' in Bastar villages.

What Happens Next

Current Status

As of February 2026, the conflict is concentrated in just three districts of Chhattisgarh, with the UN CERD invoking 'urgent action' mechanisms against the intensity of the crackdown.

Likely Next

A surge in 'area domination' operations in the Abujmad forest and potential legal/diplomatic responses by India to the UN's CERD allegations.

Wildcards

Potential 'desperation attacks' by remaining Maoist remnants or a significant intervention by the Supreme Court of India regarding the reported 500 Adivasi casualties.

Why UPSC Cares

Syllabus Topics

• Linkages between development and spread of extremism
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
• Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity

Essay Angles

• National Security vs. Human Rights: The Dilemma of the 'Final Push'
• Internal Security as a Pre-requisite for Viksit Bharat
• The integration of Adivasi rights into the security paradigm

Prelims Likely: Yes

Mains Likely: Yes

Trend Signal: rising

Exam Intelligence

Previous Year Question Connections

• Scenario-based question on Naxalites kidnapping a DC in Bastar and demand for prisoner release. — The arc shows the shift from hostage-negotiation eras to the current 'eradication' phase where the state no longer negotiates from weakness.
• Appropriate response when Naxalites use tribals as human shields in Dantewada. — Directly links to the 2026 UN CERD concerns regarding Adivasi casualties during operations in the same geography.

Prelims Angles

• Exact deadline set for LWE eradication (March 31, 2026).
• The specific districts remaining 'most affected' in 2025: Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur.
• Details of the NIA's specialized 'anti-Naxal vertical' and its asset seizure powers.
• The role and function of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Mains Preparation

Sample Question: While the Indian government's strategy of 'SAMADHAN' has brought Left Wing Extremism to the brink of extinction, the 'Final Push' towards a 2026 deadline has raised significant international human rights concerns. Critically analyze the balance between kinetic operations and developmental interventions in resolving LWE.

Answer Structure: Intro: Mention the 2026 deadline and current status (11 districts). Body 1: Successes of the multi-pronged strategy (Leadership elimination, NIA's financial crackdown, Rehabilitation policy). Body 2: Challenges raised by international bodies (UN CERD allegations, Adivasi casualties, trust deficit). Critical Analysis: The risk of 'statistical success' vs. long-term peace. Way Forward: Strengthening PESA, Forest Rights Act implementation alongside security.

Essay Topic: The End of the Red Corridor: A Victory for the State or a Challenge for Democracy?

Textbook Connections

Key Takeaway

India's LWE conflict is entering its endgame through a high-stakes race between total security eradication and growing international human rights scrutiny.

All Events in This Story (9 items)

1. 2025-03-13 [Polity & Governance] — Chhattisgarh Approves Rehabilitation Policy for Maoists
   The Chhattisgarh Government has approved a new rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists, which includes assurances of financial aid, education, employment, and security. The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Chhattisgarh approves rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists.

   Key Facts:

   • New rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists approved
   • Policy includes financial aid, education, employment, and security
   • Chief Minister: Vishnu Deo Sai
2. 2025-04-02 [Polity & Governance] — Left Wing Extremism Eradication Target
   The Indian government aims to eradicate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 31, 2026. The number of districts affected by LWE has reduced from 38 to 18, with the most-affected districts down from 12 to 6, primarily in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Government aims to eradicate Left Wing Extremism by March 31, 2026.

   Key Facts:

   • India's target: Eradicate LWE by March 31, 2026.
   • Districts Affected by LWE: Reduced from 38 to 18.
   • Most-affected districts: Down from 12 to 6, mainly in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand.
3. 2025-05-22 [Defense & Security] — Killing of Maoist Leader Basavaraju in Chhattisgarh
   The killing of top Maoist leader Basavaraju, CPI (Maoist) General Secretary, along with 26 cadres in Chhattisgarh marks a critical moment in India's battle against left-wing extremism (LWE), signaling both a security success and a policy challenge. Focused operations across Bastar, Dantewada, and Narayanpur have weakened key Maoist regions. Long-term peace demands improved governance, tribal welfare, land reforms, and local participation, alongside modernized police forces and intelligence sharing.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Maoist leader Basavaraju killed in Chhattisgarh, a critical moment in LWE.

   Key Facts:

   • Basavaraju was the CPI (Maoist) General Secretary.
   • 26 cadres were killed along with Basavaraju in Chhattisgarh.
   • 219 LWE cadres killed since December 2023.
   • Basavaraju was a key strategist in the 2010 Dantewada massacre and 2013 Jiram Ghati ambush.
   • Chhattisgarh aims to become Maoist-free by March 2026.
   • Reforms initiated under Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) and Mission Suvidha.
4. 2025-10-15 [Polity & Governance] — India's LWE-affected districts reduced
   The Union Home Ministry stated that the number of districts most affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India has decreased from six to three, with Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh remaining under the classification of most affected.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: LWE-affected districts reduced; Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur remain.

   Key Facts:

   • Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
   • Union Home Ministry
   • Bijapur
   • Sukma
   • Narayanpur
   • Chhattisgarh
5. 2025-10-18 [Defense & Security] — Mass surrender by 210 Maoists in Chhattisgarh
   In Chhattisgarh, 210 Maoists surrendered their arms to the government. The Union Government views this as a significant success in their efforts to combat Naxalism.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Mass surrender by 210 Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

   Key Facts:

   • 210 Maoists
   • Chhattisgarh
6. 2025-12-01 [Polity & Governance] — 60th All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police
   The 60th All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police was held on 28-30 November in Raipur, Chhattisgarh and was chaired by PM Modi. The theme was 'Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions'. Key security issues discussed included Left Wing Extremism (LWE), counter-terrorism, cyber security, women's safety, and disaster management.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: 60th All India Conference of DGPs/IGPs theme: 'Viksit Bharat: Security Dimension'.

   Key Facts:

   • Held on 28-30 November
   • Location: Raipur, Chhattisgarh
   • Theme: 'Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions'
7. 2025-12-15 [Polity & Governance] — Near-Elimination of Left Wing Extremism
   A PIB release on December 13, 2025, reported the near-elimination of Left Wing Extremism (LWE), with affected districts reduced from 126 in 2014 to 11 in 2025 and most-affected districts down from 36 to 3, with a target to make India Naxal-free by March 2026. This shift from reactive policing to an integrated counter-insurgency and development strategy is considered one of the largest internal security turnarounds since Independence.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Near-elimination of Left Wing Extremism.

   Key Facts:

   • LWE-affected districts reduced from 126 (2014) to 11 (2025)
   • Most-affected districts down from 36 to 3
   • Target: Naxal-free India by March 2026
   • NIA anti-Naxal vertical
   • NIA asset seizures: ₹40+ crore
   • States asset seizures: ₹40+ crore
   • ED attachments: ₹12 crore
8. 2026-01-11 [Polity & Governance] — UN Raises Concerns over Discrimination and Violence in India
   The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has invoked its early warning mechanism in response to reports of systemic discrimination and violence in India. The committee is concerned that India's security, citizenship, and conservation policies may violate the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
   More details

   UPSC Angle: UN raises concerns over discrimination and violence in India.

   Key Facts:

   • CERD invoked early warning mechanism due to reports of systemic discrimination and violence in India
   • Concerns over security, citizenship, and conservation policies violating ICERD
   • Counter-insurgency operations in Bastar led to "unprecedented violence," with at least 500 Adivasi individuals reportedly killed between January 2024 and October 2025
   • Five incidents of aerial bombing by security forces targeting villages and forests between 2021 and 2025 were flagged
9. 2026-02-03 [Polity & Governance] — UN Raises Concerns about Discrimination and Violence in India
   The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has invoked its early warning and urgent action mechanism in response to reports of systemic discrimination and violence in India, particularly concerning security, citizenship, and conservation policies. CERD alleges counter-insurgency operations in Bastar have led to significant Adivasi casualties and human rights violations.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Not exam-relevant

   Key Facts:

   • CERD invoked its early warning and urgent action mechanism regarding India
   • Concerns raised about security, citizenship, and conservation policies
   • Since January 2024, counter-insurgency operations aimed at eliminating non-state armed groups by March 2026 have led to "unprecedented violence," with at least 500 Adivasi individuals, including civilians, reportedly killed between January 2024 and October 2025
   • Five incidents of aerial bombing by security forces targeting villages and forests between 2021 and 2025, and the establishment of more than 300 security bases on ancestral lands since 2019