Chapter 1 · Topic 1.2 · Prelims + Mains2 of 3
Development & Spread of Extremism: North-East
Key points
- LWE-affected districts fell from 126 (before 2018) to 0 (March/April 2026); 37 'Legacy and Thrust' districts still get support.
- LWE strategy has four layers: security, development, rights (FRA, PESA) and perception; SAMADHAN doctrine (2017).
- North-East accords: Naga Framework (2015), Bru and Bodo (2020), Karbi (2021), UNLF and ULFA (2023), NLFT-ATTF (2024).
Prelims box: facts and traps
| Year | North-East accord |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Naga Framework Agreement (NSCN-IM) |
| 2020 | Bru-Reang and Bodo accords |
| 2021 | Karbi Anglong Agreement (Assam) |
| 2023 | UNLF (Manipur valley) and ULFA (pro-talks) |
| 2024 | NLFT and ATTF (Tripura) |
- LWE-affected districts: 126 before April 2018, 90 (2018), 70 (2021), 38 (2024), 8 (Dec 2025), 0 (2026).
- Trap: UNLF (2023) was the first valley-based Manipur armed group to sign a peace deal.
Countering LWE: from 126 districts to none
| Date | Districts classed as LWE-affected |
|---|---|
| Before April 2018 | 126 |
| April 2018 | 90 |
| July 2021 | 70 |
| April 2024 | 38 |
| December 2025 | 8 |
| March/April 2026 | 0 (37 ‘Legacy and Thrust’ districts and 1 ‘District of Concern’ still get support) |
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, Parliament reply, July 2026. “Legacy and Thrust” districts still get extra money so violence doesn’t return.
Mains 2025 noted the Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026, and asked how people are affected and what measures were taken.
- How people suffer: violence, extortion (forced payments), blocked roads and schools, and displacement.
- Measures: the 2015 National Policy and Action Plan, the SAMADHAN doctrine (2017), more security camps, roads and mobile towers, Eklavya schools, and surrender and rehabilitation policies.
- Result: after the March 2026 review, the Home Ministry said no district falls in the LWE-affected category.
The Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026. What do you understand by LWE and how are the people affected by it? What measures have been taken by the government to eliminate LWE?
Mains 2022 said Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. Like a fever: medicine (security) brings it down, good food (development) stops it returning. A multilayered strategy:
- Security: intelligence-led operations, choking finance.
- Development: roads, banks, skills.
- Rights: forest rights, PESA.
- Perception: local recruitment, communication.
New risks: urban support networks and relapse in ‘Legacy and Thrust’ districts.
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.
Mains 2018 asked the same: use the four layers above.
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.
What UPSC asks: 126 to 0, SAMADHAN.
Insurgency and peace in the North-East
Mains 2017 said the North-East region of India has been infested with insurgency, an armed revolt against the state, for a very long time, and asked why it survives. Reasons: many ethnic identities with competing homeland demands, rugged terrain, porous (easy to cross) borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, extortion economies, drug and arms flows, and slow development.
The North-East region of India has been infested with insurgency for a very long time. Analyze the major reasons for the survival of armed insurgency in this region.
| 2015 | Naga Framework Agreement | Talks with NSCN(IM) continue |
| 2020 | Bru-Reang and Bodo accords | Resettlement; Bodoland Territorial Region |
| 2021 | Karbi Anglong Agreement | Assam |
| 2023 | UNLF and ULFA (pro-talks) agreements | Manipur valley group; Assam |
| 2024 | Tripura agreement | NLFT and ATTF |
Mains 2025 asked about the major challenges to internal security and peace process in the North- Eastern States and asked candidates to map the peace accords of the past decade. Challenges: ethnic conflict in Manipur since May 2023, open movement across the Myanmar border, unfinished Naga talks and inter-State boundary disputes. AFSPA has been withdrawn from Tripura and Meghalaya and reduced in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur as violence fell. Insurgency incidents fell 71% from 2014 to 2023 (MHA).
What are the major challenges to internal security and peace process in the North-Eastern States? Map the various peace accords and agreements initiated by the government in the past decade.
What UPSC asks: accords 2015–2024, AFSPA scaled back.
Mains box: analysis and answer points
- LWE elimination (Mains 2025, 10 marks): how people suffer, then measures: 2015 plan, SAMADHAN, camps, roads, towers, Eklavya schools, surrender policy.
- Multilayered strategy (Mains 2022): security, development, rights, perception; new risks of relapse and urban networks.
- North-East (Mains 2017, 2025): why insurgency survives; accords of the decade; Manipur since May 2023.
Practice
Write an answer
In 150 words, explain the significance of Development & Spread of Extremism with one recent example.
Flashcards (8)
SAMADHAN year?
2017.
LWE-affected districts April 2024?
38.
LWE-affected districts after March 2026?
None.
Legacy and Thrust districts (2026)?
37.
Naga Framework Agreement?
2015.
Bodo accord year?
2020.
UNLF peace agreement?
November 2023.
AFSPA withdrawn fully from?
Tripura and Meghalaya.
Read more: related explainers
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- 1 Aug 2026Backgrounder: India “effectively free” of Left Wing Extremism
- 29 Jul 2026MHA: 37 “Legacy & Thrust” districts no longer LWE-affected
Next topic · 1.3 →Development & Spread of Extremism: Jammu & Kashmir: militancy and mainstreamingSyllabus: GS-III · Linkages between development and spread of extremism.