India Foundation, in collaboration with India Habitat Centre, organised a panel discussion on ‘India’s Success in Curbing Left-Wing Extremism’ at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 6th January 2026. The panel featured Shri Rajiv Gauba, Former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and Member, NITI Aayog; Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh, Former Deputy National Security Advisor of India; and Shri Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, The Print. The discussion was moderated by Shri Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President, India Foundation.
The panel deliberated on India’s multi-pronged approach to tackling Left-Wing Extremism, highlighting improvements in security operations, governance outreach, development interventions, and the importance of winning public trust in affected regions. The discussion offered valuable insights into the evolution of the LWE threat and the strategies that have significantly weakened it in recent years.
The panelists traced the origins of Left-Wing Extremism to the late 1960s and highlighted how governance gaps, socio-economic deprivation, and ideological mobilisation allowed Maoist groups to expand across large parts of central and eastern India. Drawing on first-hand administrative and operational experience, they recalled the gravity of the situation during the early 2000s, when large areas were effectively outside state control, marked by frequent attacks on security forces, civilian casualties, and systematic destruction of infrastructure.
A key focus of the discussion was the decisive shift after 2014-15, when the government adopted a comprehensive national policy and action plan. The panelists emphasised the effectiveness of a “whole-of-government” approach that combined robust security measures with focused development interventions. Expansion of road and telecom connectivity, establishment of forward security camps, welfare delivery through flagship schemes, implementation of forest rights, and strengthening of state police capacities were identified as crucial elements in reversing Maoist influence.
The panelists also underscored the importance of improved intelligence gathering, inter-state coordination, deployment of specialised forces, and sustained action against the financial and urban support networks of extremist groups. These efforts, they noted, have led to a sharp decline in violence, casualties, and the number of affected districts. The discussion concluded with a consensus that while the security gains are substantial, lasting peace will depend on sustained governance reforms, protection of tribal rights, accountability of institutions, and continued vigilance to prevent the resurgence of extremist ideologies.
