Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend, but still affects many parts of the country. Briefly explain the Government of India’s approach to counter the challenges posed by LWE.
Approach · directive: “briefly explain”
What it asks · Explain in brief the Government of India's multi-pronged approach to LWE: security, development, rights and entitlements, and community outreach.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Note the context: LWE is declining but still affects many districts
- Briefly explain the Government of India's multi-pronged approach: security, development, rights and entitlements, and outreach
Open with · Police and public order are State subjects, so the Centre supplements the efforts of affected States through an integrated approach that joins security with development and good governance.
Cover
- Policy frame: the National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE (2015) sets a multi-pronged strategy in security, development, and ensuring the rights and entitlements of local communities.
- Security: Central Armed Police Forces and India Reserve battalions, reimbursement under the Security Related Expenditure scheme, modernisation of State police, helicopters, intelligence-sharing and inter-State coordination.
- SAMADHAN (2017): a doctrine running from smart leadership and aggressive strategy to actionable intelligence, technology and cutting off Maoist financing.
- Development: roads and telecom connectivity, skill development, and Special Central Assistance to the worst-affected districts for critical infrastructure and services; Aspirational Districts add focus.
- Rights and entitlements: implementing the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996; better delivery of MGNREGA, the public distribution system and schooling.
- Outreach: surrender and rehabilitation policy, counter-propaganda, and trust-building with alienated tribal communities.
- Gaps: uneven governance, land alienation and displacement, and weak coordination between States; force alone cannot end extremism.
Close with · The approach works when security clears space and development and rights fill it; sustained governance, not force alone, will end LWE.
Add value (verified)
- The Home Ministry describes the approach as integrated and holistic, addressing security and development while promoting good governance, under its National Policy and Action Plan to Address Left Wing Extremism. Annual Report 2023-24, Chapter 2 (Internal Security: Left Wing Extremism, para 2.18), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India ↗“The Government of India (GoI) has adopted an integrated and holistic approach to deal with the LWE by addressing the areas of Security and Development and simultaneously promoting good governance.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2018, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 200 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
Police and public order are State subjects, so the Centre supplements the affected States through an integrated approach that pairs security with development and good governance, set out in the National Policy and Action Plan of 2015.
Security
- Central Armed Police Forces and India Reserve battalions, reimbursement of States' costs under the Security Related Expenditure scheme, police modernisation, helicopters, intelligence-sharing and inter-State coordination.
- SAMADHAN (2017): a doctrine spanning smart leadership, aggressive strategy, actionable intelligence, technology and choking Maoist finances.
Development
- Roads and telecom towers in affected districts, skill development, and Special Central Assistance for critical infrastructure in the worst-affected districts; the Aspirational Districts programme adds focus.
Rights and entitlements
- Implementing the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and PESA, 1996 in Scheduled Areas, and better delivery of MGNREGA, the public distribution system and schooling, to remove the grievances Maoists exploit.
Outreach
- Surrender and rehabilitation policies, counter-propaganda, and trust-building with alienated tribal communities.
Remaining challenges
- Uneven governance, land alienation and displacement, and weak coordination among States; the Home Ministry itself calls the approach holistic because force alone cannot end extremism.
Security clears the space and development and rights must fill it; the downward trend will hold only if governance reaches the last village.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.