Lodhi Samaj Scholarship Test Result Out 2026
General Studies Paper – III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
Context:
The roots of Naxalism in India lie in a peasant rebellion that occurred on May 25, 1967, in Naxalbari village of Darjeeling district, West Bengal. Started under the leadership of Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal, this movement emerged with the slogans of 'Land Reform' and 'End of Feudalism'. Over time, it transformed into Maoist ideology (change of power through armed revolution). In the mid-2000s, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared it "India’s biggest internal security challenge." The declaration of India as 'Naxal-free' by Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on March 30, 2026, is a decisive turning point in this five-decade-old struggle.
1. Legal Definition: The Government of India classifies Naxalism as 'Left Wing Extremism' (LWE).
2. UAPA, 1967: The Communist Party of India (Maoist) has been banned as a terrorist organization under this Act.
3. War against the State: Under the Indian Penal Code (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), it is viewed as an armed attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government.
Behind the Home Minister's declaration are concrete figures and ground-level changes from the last three years:
1. Naxal-Free Declaration: One day before the March 31 deadline, on March 30, India was officially declared free from Naxalism.
2. Operational Success: In the last three years, 4,839 Maoists surrendered, 2,218 were arrested, and 706 were neutralized in encounters.
3. Strategic Shift: Control was gained over the final strongholds (such as Abujhmad) through special forces like 'Operation Greyhounds' and 'Bastariya Battalion'.
4. Comparative Politics: The government has described the current 'Zero Tolerance' policy as more effective compared to the UPA’s 'Operation Green Hunt'.
The following have been the primary reasons behind the growth of Naxalism:
Jal, Jangal, Jameen (Water, Forest, Land): Displacement of tribals and lack of rights over their natural resources.
Lack of Development: The absence of infrastructure (roads, electricity, schools) gave Maoists the opportunity to run a 'parallel government'.
Social Injustice: Exploitation by local administration and threat to the cultural identity of tribals.
Ideological: Distrust in parliamentary democracy and the influence of Maoist ideology.
This declaration is not just a security achievement; it has several meanings:
Victory of Democracy: t proves that the ballot is more powerful than the bullet.
Economic Development: Roads to investment and industrial development will now open in mineral-rich areas that were Naxal-affected (Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand).
Psychological Edge: This is a step to break the morale of the remaining sympathizers.
Internal Security: After the North-East, the establishment of peace in Central India will strengthen the country’s internal security structure.
Positive: The reduction in violence has protected the lives and property of innocent tribals. The presence of the State has increased in areas where it was previously impossible to go.
Challenging: Some human rights activists argue that the use of terms like 'Urban Naxal' and harsh police action have increased pressure on freedom of expression and judicial processes.
(S- Smart Leadership, A- Aggressive Strategy, M- Motivation, A- Actionable Intelligence, D- Dashboard-based Key Performance Indicators, H- Harnessing Technology, A- Action Plan, N- No access to Financing). This integrated strategy of the Ministry of Home Affairs proved to be a game-changer.
Eklavya Model Schools in affected areas, distribution of Aadhaar and Ration cards in every village, 5,000 new mobile towers, and more than 17,000 km of road connectivity in affected areas (RRP-II).
Economic assistance and employment to bring surrendering Maoists into the mainstream.
Fifth and Sixth Schedule: To protect the administration and autonomy of tribals.
Article 244: Provision for the administration of Scheduled and Tribal Areas.
PESA Act (1996): Giving Gram Sabhas rights over natural resources, which is helpful in cutting the roots of Naxalism.
While a military solution to Naxalism has been found, work remains for its ideological eradication. The Home Minister's 'No Mercy' policy has brought military success, but for long-term peace, tribals must be protected from 'Crony Capitalism'. The extraction of natural resources should not come at the cost of tribal interests.
Ideological Eradication: Merely reducing violence is not enough; democratic values must be strengthened to cut the roots of Maoist ideology.
Politics of Reconciliation: Dialogue with tribals and respect for their traditional rights (PESA and Forest Rights Act) is necessary to heal the wounds of war.
Accountable Development: Participation of local communities in resource extraction should be ensured to avoid allegations of 'Crony Capitalism'.
India's struggle against Naxalism is now at a 'decisive turning point'. The success of security forces has provided an 'opportunity corridor'. It is now the responsibility of the State to transform this military lead into lasting peace. A strong democracy is one where there is no place for violence in protest, but there is a full guarantee of 'just and inclusive development' for the redressal of grievances.
Source - The Hindu
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
