Background:
● Scale of conflict: ‘Red Corridor’ spanned 12 States, covering 70% of the
landmass and affecting 20 crore citizens.
● Poverty myth: Data from 1960s shows Naxalbari had higher per capita
income compared to non-affected regions like Saharsa, proving the movement
was driven by ideology rather than poverty.
● Human cost: 20,000+ lives lost over decades, including 5,000+ martyred
security personnel.
● Financial disruption: Investigations revealed Naxals were collecting an annual
‘tax’ of ₹240 crore from the public.
● Looted weaponry: ~92% of weapons used by Naxals were not imported but
looted from police stations and armories.
● 2005 Jehanabad jailbreak: 1,000 armed Naxals stormed a CRPF camp and jail,
freeing 389 prisoners.
● Urban support systems: National Advisory Council (NAC) and various Urban
Naxals (e.g.: Harsh Mander, Binayak Sen, etc.) provided intellectual and policy
cover.
Achievements:
● Historic milestone: India becomes Naxal-free as of March 31, 2026, marking the
end of a 56-year-old conflict.
● Drastic reduction: ‘Affected’ districts dropped from 126 (in 2014) to just 2 (in
2026); ‘Most Affected’ districts fell from 35 to zero.
● Leadership neutralized: Entire top leadership, including all 21 Central
Committee and Politburo members, neutralized or surrendered.
● Zero tolerance for ‘Urban Naxals’: Whole of Government approach to
neutralize front organizations and support systems in urban areas.
● Lucrative surrender policy: Surrendering Naxals receive ₹50,000 immediate
aid, monthly stipend for 36 months, and housing under PM Awas Yojana.
