State PCS - Chhattisgarh (CGPSC)

• 11 Jun 2025

Indravati National Park

Why in News? 

During ongoing anti-Naxal operations, security forces encountered Maoists in Indravati National Park, located in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh.

Key Points 

• Indravati National Park:  
  • It is situated in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.  
  • It attained the status of a national park in 1981 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under India’s Project Tiger.  
  • It is named after the Indravati River, which flows from east to west and forms the reserve's northern boundary with Maharashtra.  
  • Vegetation:  
    • Comprises three major forest types:  
      • Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest with Teak.  
      • Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest without Teak.  
      • Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest.  
  • Flora:  
    • Common tree species include teak, achar, karra, kullu, shisham, semal, haldu, arjun, bel, and jamun.  
  • Fauna:  
    • Hosts one of the last populations of rare wild buffalo.  
    • Other species include Nilgai, Black Buck, Sambar, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Chital, Sloth Bears, and more. 
• Anti-Naxal Operations:  
  • Large-scale operations like Operation Green Hunt, Operation Kagar, Operation Black Forest, etc., deploy paramilitary forces to eliminate the Naxalite presence.   
  • Increased deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police, along with specialized forces such as Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Greyhounds (Andhra Pradesh), strengthens counter-insurgency efforts in the Red Corridor for long-term security. 
• Maoist Casualties: 
  • In 2025, 209 Maoists were killed in Chhattisgarh, with 192 deaths reported in Bastar region alone. 
  • In 2024, a total of 219 Maoists were killed in the state, including 217 in the Bastar region.