Context:
India’s long-running battle against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) has witnessed a decisive turnaround, with Maoist violence declining by nearly 90% since 2010. A key driver of this transformation has been the establishment of security camps in remote, previously inaccessible regions, particularly in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division, enabling both security dominance and governance outreach.
Key Highlights:
- Declining Footprint of Maoist Insurgency
- Maoist violence reduced by around 90% between 2010 and 2025.
- LWE-affected districts declined from 126 (2018) to 11 (October 2025).
- Only three districts—Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Sukma—remain in the “most affected” category, all located in south Bastar.
- Role of Security Camps
- Forward security camps were established in remote forested and tribal regions once dominated by Maoists.
- Camps reduced reaction time of security forces, improved area domination, and strengthened human intelligence (HUMINT).
- The permanent presence of the state weakened Maoist influence and curtailed their ability to run parallel governance structures.
- Governance and Development Outcomes
- Camps enabled construction of roads, bridges, mobile towers, and electricity infrastructure.
- Improved physical access allowed civil administration to deliver welfare schemes, health services, and education.
- Enhanced state visibility restored public trust among tribal communities.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Left Wing Extremism (LWE): Ideologically driven insurgency seeking radical socio-economic change through violence.
- Dandakaranya Region (DKR): A forested, tribal-dominated area across central India that became a Maoist stronghold due to remoteness and governance deficits.
- HUMINT: Intelligence gathered from local populations, critical in counter-insurgency operations.
- Bastar region has historically suffered from infrastructure deficits and administrative absence.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Security camps bridged the security–development gap, proving that counter-insurgency cannot rely on force alone.
- Maoist expansion was rooted in alienation of tribal communities and neglect of constitutional safeguards.
- Long-term peace requires addressing structural issues such as land rights, forest access, and local self-governance.
- Effective implementation of PESA and FRA is essential to prevent relapse into insurgency.
- Way Forward
- Consolidate gains through rights-based governance, not mere militarisation.
- Create a dedicated regional task force with a roadmap up to 2047, aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision.
- Strengthen livelihood generation, education, and tribal participation in decision-making.
UPSC Relevance:
GS Paper I – Indian Society
GS Paper II – Governance
GS Paper III – Internal Security