Rapid Fire
Classification of Districts Affected by LWE
- 04 Apr 2026
- 3 min read
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has comprehensively revised the categorization of districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) to align anti-Naxal strategies with current ground realities, marking a historic contraction of the Red Corridor (districts of India which have the presence and influence of Naxalites).
- New Classification: The earlier category of “most affected districts” has been replaced with a more nuanced classification consisting of LWE Affected Districts, Districts of Concern, and Legacy & Thrust Districts, allowing better assessment of the intensity of extremism.
- Current Categorisation (2026): At present, only Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) and West Singhbhum (Jharkhand) are classified as LWE Affected Districts, while Kanker (Chhattisgarh) is categorised as a District of Concern, and the remaining 35 districts fall under Legacy & Thrust category across nine states.
- Previously, districts such as Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh were part of the “most affected” category till 2025, indicating a significant improvement in the situation.
- Decline of Red Corridor: The Red Corridor has sharply reduced from over 200 districts in 2005 to just 2 districts in 2026, reflecting the success of sustained security and developmental interventions, in line with India’s target to eliminate LWE by March 2026.
- Purpose of Reclassification: The revised categorisation aims to ensure better allocation of resources and alignment of anti-LWE efforts with evolving ground realities, making interventions more targeted and effective.
- Policy Framework: The changes are rooted in the National Policy and Action Plan to Address LWE (2015), which combines security measures with development initiatives to tackle extremism comprehensively.
- Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: The revised categorizations will dictate resource deployment under the SRE Scheme, where the Centre reimburses States for security force operations, ex-gratia payments, and the rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadres and community policing.
- A total of Rs 1,685 crore has been released up to 2023–24 under the SRE Scheme, reflecting sustained financial commitment to combat LWE.
- Naxal-free India: The Union Government has declared in the Lok Sabha that the country is effectively “Naxal-free,” marking a major milestone in internal security.
| Read more: Left Wing Extremism-Free India |
