LWE

2025

LWE refers to violent insurgency driven by Maoist or Naxalite ideologies, with an objective of overthrowing the government and establishing a communist society.

Determinants of Left-Wing Extremism in Eastern India

Maoist ideology of armed class struggle

Land Displacement due to Mining

Poor implementation of FRA, 2006, and PESA.

Historical Socio-Economic Deprivation

Unemployment & Lack of Livelihood Options

Governance Deficit

Geographical challenges

Impact on people

Over 14,000 lives were lost to Naxal violence in the last 20 years

Infrastructure Destruction– targeting road networks, railways, and telecom towers in the “Red Corridor”.

Extortion and “Levy”

Human Rights Violations – Eg- abduction and killing of local leaders

Low-growth trap increases inequality and poverty. Eg- The HDI for Malkangiri district (Odisha) – a LWE stronghold – is only 0.37, compared to the state’s average of 0.579.

Socio-economic impact – Eg- As per MHA report, 70% population of naxal affected areas lives under BPL.

Recruitment of Minors and Vulnerable Youth – Eg- Reports of child soldiers in southern Bastar.

Measures taken by government

Security Measures

Specialised Forces- Eg- Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh and the Bastariya Battalion in Chhattisgarh

Naxal’s Financial chocking

Security Related Expenditure and Special Infrastructure Scheme for strengthening State Special Forces and Special Intelligence Branches

Developmental measures

Building Critical Infrastructure in LWE Areas – Eg- Road Requirement Plan (RRP-I) constructing 14000 km of roads

Socio-economic development

Financial Inclusion- over 1,00 bank branches have been opened in LWE affected districts since April 2015.

Aspirational districts program

ROSHNI Scheme for skill development and employment-linked training for youth

Surrender and rehabilitation policy – attractive incentives and assured livelihood. Eg- stipend for professional training

Panchayat Extension To Scheduled Areas Act (PESA) and Forest Rights Act 2006 for strengthening tribal self-governance

Progress anchored in justice and inclusion is the best antidote to extremism.

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.

Maritime Security Challenges

Internal Security › Maritime Security Challenges

2025

Maritime security is the “silent guardian” of India’s economic prosperity. The safety of Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) is not just a military concern but a vital economic imperative.

Importance of maritime security for India’s sea trade

Economic Lifeline- Approximately 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value is conducted via the sea.

Energy Security- India imports over 88% of its crude oil and 51% of its natural gas from chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Malacca Strait.

Global Hub Aspirations- Secure seas are essential for India to emerge as a global transshipment hub

Protection of “Blue Economy”- to protect fisheries, offshore oil/gas (Mumbai High), and seabed minerals in India’s 2.3 million sq. km. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Strategic Connectivity- Initiatives like Sagarmala and IMEC rely on secure seas.

Submarine Cable Safety- Almost 99% of India’s internet data travels through undersea fiber-optic cables.

Regional Leadership under SAGAR Vision – Eg- India as a “First Responder”.

Climate Resilience- Security agencies like the Indian Coast Guard play a critical role in responding to oil spills and natural disasters.

The Indian ocean region is ‘New Hotbed’ of security threats – Fareed Zakaria

Maritime Terrorism- Eg- the 26/11 Mumbai attacks

Geopolitical Competition from China challenging India’s role as a “Net Security Provider.”

“dual-use” ports like Hambantota (Sri Lanka) and Gwadar (Pakistan)

Chinese spy ships in Indian Ocean (Tianwen I)

Piracy and Armed Robbery-

Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea

Houthi disruptions in the Red Sea

Transnational Organized Crime- The “Golden Crescent” and “Golden Triangle” routes converge in the IOR. (MHA)

Human Trafficking- Illegal migration routes across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing- Eg- Large foreign deep-sea trawlers encroaching on India’s.

Offshore Asset Vulnerability- Eg- Mumbai High oil rigs and the Great Nicobar Project from state and non-state sabotage.

Nuclearization of IOR due to AUKUS

IOR emerging as theater of great-power rivalry – Eg- US-UK base in Diego Garcia

Way Forward

Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)- Strengthening the NC3I Network and Information Fusion Centre (IFC-IOR)

Fishermen as “Eyes & Ears”- Speeding up the issuance of Biometric ID cards and distress alert transmitters.

Apex committee to coordinate all maritime operations (Kargil Review Committee)

Technological Modernization

Deploying AI-powered systems for 24/7 surveillance.

Utilizing ISRO’s RISAT and UAVs like the Heron for all-weather, day-and-night imaging.

Accelerate the induction of P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft and Sea Guardian drones.

Global collaboration under UNCLOS to ensure Rules based Order in IOR

Strengthening Marine Police with specialized training, equipments and proper legal powers.

Regular joint exercises like Sagar Kavach and Sea Vigil to build synergy among various agencies

Strengthening regional cooperation through Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

Environmental Resilience- Integrating climate risk management into maritime strategy

Maritime security is the backbone of India’s strategic autonomy, leadership (“Net security provider”) and Navy’s ambition of Blue Water Navy

Science and Technology

IT, Defence and Space

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.

North East Insurgency

Internal Security › North East Insurgency

2025

The N-E region comprising eight states and connected to the Indian mainland by a small Silghuri Corridor (Chicken Neck – 23 km width) has been facing the problems of insurgency for over 5 decades.

Major challenges to internal security and peace process in North-Eastern states

Cross-Border Dynamics– Porous Indo-Myanmar borders enable arms, insurgent movement, and illegal trade.

“Tyranny of distance” – Policy attention from New Delhi remains inadequate due to geographic remoteness and low political representation of the region.

Ethnic divisions – Eg- deepening Meitei-Kuki-Zo divide post-2023 riots in Manipur

Weak peace processes – Talks with 30+ insurgent groups in Manipur and Nagaland continue without breakthroughs

Protracted insurgencies and splintering of groups reduce prospects for a single comprehensive settlement. Eg- NSCN splits (IM/NK/R).

Poor governance and developmental deficit sustain grievance and provide recruitment ground.

Drug trafficking, illegal timber/mineral extraction and extortion fund insurgents and fuel local conflict. Eg- proximity to Golden Traingle

Demographic stress – Large-scale illegal Bangladesh-origin immigration create social tensions and political mistrust. Eg- in Assam

High Violence– In 2024, NE India experienced 266 insurgency-related incidents, causing 258 deaths and displacing 60,000 people.

External factors

China – Territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh and support to insurgent groups

Bangladesh – Anti-India shift post coup and growing Pakistan-China influence

Myanmar – destabilised border post ‘Spring Revolution’

Map of major peace accords

2015 – Naga Framework Agreement for an “inclusive political solution” within the Indian Union (framework terms still being negotiated).

2019 – Tripura NLFT (SD) Memorandum of Settlement – surrender of cadres and rehabilitation package to end insurgency.

2020 – Bru-Reang Agreement (Tripura-Mizoram) – Repatriation and rehabilitation of Bru refugees with security and development assurances.

2020 – Bodo Peace Accord (Phase-II) – Expansion of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) powers, and development funds.

2021 – Karbi Anglong Agreement (Assam)

2022 – Assam-Meghalaya Boundary Agreement – land demarcation to resolve long-standing boundary disputes.

2022 – Adivasi (Assam) Peace Accord (2022) – Settlement package including rehabilitation and development measures.

2023 – Dimasa accords – Ceasefire, surrender/rehab and local development commitments.

2023 – ULFA Accord – bringing a major faction of ULFA into a political process in Assam

2024 – NLFT and ATTF Agreements (Tripura) – Memoranda of Settlement leading to cadre surrender and integration

Other supporting measures (2015-2024) –

Extension of ceasefires with various Naga factions, multiple SoO (Suspension of Operations) agreements, and targeted MoUs with smaller groups

AFSPA withdrawal from Tripura and MEghalaya

Peace in the North-East requires a multipronged approach involving negotiated settlements backed by credible security, sustained development, rights protection and wide stakeholder inclusion

Terrorism

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.

Organized Crime and Terrorism

Internal Security › Organized Crime and Terrorism

2025

As per Bruce Hoffman, “Terrorism is the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change.”

Terrosim as a global scourge (Global Terrorism Index 2025)

over 8,000 terrorism-related deaths globally (2024)

Islamic State (IS) expanded its operations to 22 countries

Terrorist attacks jumped by 63% in the West

India witnessed Pahalgam terrorist attack in 2025

Manifestations of Terrorism in India

State-Sponsored Terrorism – Pakistan-backed groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir – Radicalisation, infiltration, and hybrid terrorism

Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) – Naxalite-Maoist insurgency in ‘Red Corridor’

Ethno-Nationalist Militancy in the N-E – Insurgent groups like ULFA (Assam), NSCN (Nagaland).

Urban & “Lone-Wolf” Terrorism – Eg- Recent Delhi Blast

Narco-Terrorism along Golden Traingle and Golden Crescent

Financing of Terrorism – Use of Hawala, Fake Currency, NGOs, and Cryptocurrency

Digital and Cyber-Terrorism – Online recruitment, fundraising and encrypted communications.

Counter-Measures Adopted by the State

Legislative Measures

UAPA, 1967 – empowers State to designate individuals as terrorists.

NIA Act, 2008 – established National Investigation Agency with nationwide jurisdiction.

PMLA, 2002 – to curb money laundering and terror financing.

Institutional Mechanisms

National Security Council Secretariat headed by the NSA for inter-agency coordination

NATGRID and Multi-Agency Centre for real-time intelligence sharing and coordination

Operational Measures

Operation Sindoor, Surgical Strikes (2016) and Balakot airstrikes (2019) as deterrence.

Operation All-Out in J&K to neutralize militants.

Border & Internal Security Measures

Fencing and electronic surveillance along the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders.

Use of drones, radars, and thermal imaging to detect infiltration.

Community Engagement

De-radicalisation programmes in J&K.

Heart and mind strategy – Eg- Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) of Indian Army

Employment and Skill Development to mainstream youth. Eg- Udaan Scheme

International Cooperation

Active role in FATF to blacklist terror-financing states.

UN sanctions listing of terrorists like Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed.

The zero tolerance against terrorism strategy needs 4-pronged approach

Strengthening HUMINT (Human Intelligence) and TECHINT (Technological Intelligence).

SMART Borders (Madhukar Gupta Committee)

Raising cost of terrorism for Pakistan. Eg- Operation Sindoor

Human-centric Counterinsurgency

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.