UPSC Mains 2020 · GS III · Q19 · 15 marks · 250 words

What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in Eastern part of India? What strategy should Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas?

हिन्दी में

भारत के पूर्वी भाग में वामपंथी उग्रवाद के निर्धारक क्या हैं? प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में ख़तरों के प्रतिकारार्थ भारत सरकार, नागरिक प्रशासन एवं सुरक्षा बलों को किस सामरिकी को अपनाना चाहिए?

ExtremismSecurity Forces and Agencies

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Evaluate the multifaceted challenges posed by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in India. Analyzing the socio-economic and political factors contributing to the persistence of Naxalism, examine the effectiveness of the government's strategies in addressing its root causes.”

Yarasi Tusharika201 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Left wing extremism (LWE) or naxalism is an act of violence against government originated in 1967 after Naxalbari event in West Bengal.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
Multi faceted challenges posed by LWE - Challenges - 1 Security challenges → LWE poses threat to peace and security of the country. - 2 Threat to lives and property - 3 Detrimental to progress and development of the country - stalling of developmental projects in LWE affected districts. - 4 LWE and organised crimes linkage - Drugs trafficking, arms smuggling, wild life smuggling. - 5 Increased use of technology poses difficulty in identifying extremists.

Socio economic factors contributing to persistence of Naxalism

  1. Lack of adequate employment opportunities → forces youth to join extremist forces.
Diagram
Map of India showing the Red Corridor of LWE in India with a shaded region stretching along the central and eastern parts of the country.

  1. lack of inter-regional and intra-regional parity in development. Ex:- LWE districts being backward in social-economic indicators.

  2. Forced practices to join LWEs by radicalisation.

Political factors

  1. lack of political will for development of the LWE struck regions.
  2. lack of political representation. → Elections disruption in LWE struck districts.
  3. lack of adequate decentralisation of power.

Government's strategies and effectiveness in uprooting LWE

  1. State specific strategies like Greyhound were effective in tackling LWE in Andhra pradesh.
  2. SAMADHAAN strategy for multi-faceted approach towards Naxalism. → Decrease in LWE struck districts from 73 to 58 in 2023 (MHA report).
  3. Bastariya Batallion in CRPF to tackle LWE has proved to be effective.
  4. Operation double bull, operation octopus to reduce LWE.
  5. Social media campaigns against LWE has gained prominence - "Bastar maange hinsa se azaadi".

Close

There has been a 73% decline in instances of LWE from 2010 according to MHA report due to government's actions.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper III, Q19. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.