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Left Wing Extremism (LWE) as an Internal Security Challenge

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

LWE is a recurring topic in GS3 (Internal Security) and GS2 (Governance, Federalism). Understanding its nature, causes, and the state's comprehensive response is crucial for analyzing India's security landscape and governance challenges.

Left Wing Extremism (LWE), often referred to as Naxalism, is a significant internal security threat in India, rooted in socio-economic disparities, land issues, and governance deficits, primarily affecting tribal and remote areas. It involves armed groups seeking to overthrow the state through violence.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Constitutional Mandate

Police and Public Order are State subjects (Seventh Schedule), but GoI supplements State efforts.

Historical Context

Once considered one of the biggest threats to India's internal security for nearly six decades.

Current Status

Largely eradicated from the country, but 38 'Legacy & Thrust' districts require continued support to prevent relapse.

Root Causes Addressed

Government focus on development in tribal and remote areas addressed underlying causes of Naxalism.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaInternal Security

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Home Affairs (GoI)Formulates and coordinates policy
State GovernmentsImplements law and order, development initiatives
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding

Quick revision

  • LWE is an internal security threat, rooted in socio-economic disparities.
  • Police & Public Order are State subjects; GoI supplements State efforts.
  • National Policy and Action Plan 2015 led to LWE eradication.
  • Focus on development in tribal areas addressed root causes.
  • 'Legacy & Thrust' districts require continued support post-eradication.

High-confidence PYQs

2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

GeographyOpen question

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question
2024Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: 1. It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe. 2. A com...

Indian PolityOpen question
2023Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

Indian PolityOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

Indian PolityOpen question
2018Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines. 2. Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not h...

GeographyOpen question

Topic timeline

Internal Security
Prelims 2018· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines. 2. Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not h...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Open question

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Open question

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

Open question
Prelims 2024· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: 1. It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe. 2. A com...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

Open question

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

Open question

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

Open question

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

Open question

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND LWE DEVELOPMENT

05 Aug 2026 · LWE, a major internal security threat, has been largely eradicated through a multi-pronged Centre-State strategy addressing both security and developmental root causes, though vigilance continues in 'Legacy & Thrust' districts.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) as an Internal Security Challenge

Often confused with

National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) as an Internal Security Challenge in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) as an Internal Security Challenge

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

2023·Indian Polity
Solve

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

2025·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following pairs: State – Description I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks. II. Nagala...

2025·Geography
Solve

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

2025·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines. 2. Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not h...

2018·Geography
Solve

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day a...

2023·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

2025·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe. 2. A com...

2024·Indian Polity
Solve

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