Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism.
Approach · directive: “discuss / suggest”
What it asks · Discuss the new issues in tackling Left-wing extremism and propose a multilayered strategy across security, development, rights and outreach.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Discuss the emerging issues in tackling Naxalism, seen as a social, economic and developmental problem with a violent security face
- Suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle it: security, development, rights and governance, outreach
Open with · Naxalism thrives where poverty, land and forest grievances and weak governance meet, so the response must go beyond policing.
Cover
- Root causes: tribal alienation, displacement for mines and dams, unimplemented forest and land rights, poor services and exploitation by contractors and officials.
- Emerging issues: a shrinking but entrenched core in areas such as Dandakaranya and Jharkhand, use of IEDs and forest terrain, extortion funding, urban support networks and human-rights concerns in operations.
- Security layer: intelligence-led operations with State and central forces working together, better-trained State police, fortified posts and the SAMADHAN principles, including actionable intelligence, technology and cutting access to finance.
- Development layer: roads, mobile connectivity, schools, health and banking in affected districts, with the Aspirational Districts programme and central assistance for LWE areas.
- Rights and governance layer: implement the Forest Rights Act and PESA, fair land acquisition and rehabilitation, accountable local administration and quick redress of tribal grievances.
- Outreach layer: dialogue, surrender and rehabilitation policy, community policing and counter-narrative, and stopping the flow of funds and arms.
Close with · Sustained security pressure, visible development and rights delivery, and the trust of local communities together can end the movement's appeal.
Add value (verified)
- MHA (Rajya Sabha reply, 9 February 2022): only 46 districts reported LWE-related violence in 2021 against 96 in 2010, and incidents fell 77% from 2,258 in 2009 to 509 in 2021. Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 81 on Left Wing Extremism — Ministry of Home Affairs, 9 February 2022 ↗“The geographical spread of the violence has also been reduced and only 46 districts reported LWE related violence in 2021 as compared to 96 districts in 2010.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2022, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 247 words (UPSC limit 250) · Minimalist IAS
Naxalism thrives where poverty, land and forest grievances and weak governance meet; the violence is the symptom, so the response must go beyond policing.
Emerging issues
- Root causes persist: tribal alienation, displacement for mines and dams, unimplemented forest and land rights, poor services and exploitation by contractors and officials.
- Shrinking but entrenched: only 46 districts reported LWE violence in 2021 against 96 in 2010 (MHA), yet a hard core in areas such as Dandakaranya and Jharkhand still uses forest terrain and IEDs to inflict losses on security forces.
- Finance and support: extortion of contractors and mining interests funds the movement, and urban support networks supply ideology and logistics.
- Rights concerns: operations that harm civilians or misuse the law deepen alienation and feed the insurgents' narrative.
A multilayered strategy
- Security layer: intelligence-led joint operations by State and central forces, better-trained and equipped State police, fortified posts and the SAMADHAN principles, including actionable intelligence, technology and cutting access to finance.
- Development layer: roads, mobile connectivity, schools, health and banking in affected districts, with the Aspirational Districts programme and central assistance for LWE areas.
- Rights and governance layer: implement the Forest Rights Act and PESA, fair land acquisition and rehabilitation, accountable local administration and quick redress of tribal grievances.
- Outreach layer: dialogue, an attractive surrender and rehabilitation policy, community policing and counter-narrative, and choking the flow of funds and arms.
Sustained security pressure, visible development and rights delivery, and the trust of local communities together can end the movement's appeal.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify). UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.