Turning The Tide: India Reduces Left Wing Extremism Districts

A new review reduces India's Left Wing Extremism affected districts to seven. The Union government aims to end the Naxal menace by March 2026. The latest assessment categorizes districts across nine states into 'LWE-affected' and 'legacy and thrust' districts, focusing on security and development.

A fresh review of areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) has lowered the number of affected districts in India from eight to seven, demonstrating progress as the Union government works toward eradicating the Naxal threat by March 2026. This update was shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs, effective February 9, following an extensive analysis of 38 districts in nine states.

States analyzed include Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal. Two main categories emerged from the national action plan: 'LWE-affected districts' and 'legacy and thrust districts'. These influence how resources are allocated, with a new classification narrowing LWE-affected districts from last December's review.

The current 'LWE-affected districts' are Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sukma, Kanker, and Dantewada in Chhattisgarh; West Singhbhum in Jharkhand; and Kandhamal in Odisha. 'Most affected', 'districts of concern', and 'other LWE-affected' are sub-categories based on the severity of Naxal influence. Home Minister Amit Shah anticipates an end to the crisis, which has claimed approximately 17,000 lives, by the upcoming deadline.

(With inputs from agencies.)