Integrated Governance: Naxal Elimination and Welfare Deepening

Context: 

In the first year of its third term, the central government has adopted a dual approach—intensifying the fight against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) and expanding major welfare schemes. The strategy reflects a balance between ensuring national security and advancing inclusive development, particularly in underdeveloped and conflict-prone regions.

Final Push Against Left-Wing Extremism

Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the government aims to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026. The campaign has gained unprecedented momentum, with major breakthroughs in Maoist-dominated areas.

In Chhattisgarh alone, 209 Maoists were killed in the first five months of 2025—nearly matching the 219 killed in all of 2024. For comparison, only 53 Maoists were killed across India in 2023. A key milestone was the elimination of Basavaraju, the general secretary of the CPI (Maoist), in May 2025—a top-level Maoist leader killed for the first time in three decades.

Operation Black Forest: Tactical Success

Launched on April 21, 2025, Operation Black Forest was a joint campaign by CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police, targeting the Maoist base in the Kurragutta hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.

Key outcomes:

• 54 Naxalites arrested

• 84 surrendered across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra

Factors behind success:

• Strong political will and top-level backing

• Intelligence-led operations

• Centre–State coordination

• Active involvement of District Reserve Guards (DRG) and local forces

Despite these gains, Maoists still pose a threat in regions like Kolhan (Jharkhand) and Abujhmad (Chhattisgarh), where ambushes continue to cause casualties among security personnel.

Expanding Health Coverage: Ayushman Bharat for 70+

In September 2025, the government expanded PM-JAY (Ayushman Bharat) to cover all citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income or caste—ensuring health protection for the most vulnerable.

Launched in 2018, PM-JAY provides ₹5 lakh per family per year in health insurance to over 40% of India’s poorest. With India’s elderly population expected to rise to 319 million (19.5%) by 2050, this move addresses a critical demographic challenge. As per the India Ageing Report 2023, only 20% of the elderly currently have insurance coverage.

Housing and Rural Connectivity Boost

To address rural housing needs, the government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G) till 2029, with a target of constructing 2 crore additional homes. So far, ₹34,000 crore has been released to states and 84.45 lakh houses have been sanctioned.

Simultaneously, PMGSY-IV (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase IV) aims to connect 25,000 villages with all-weather roads by 2028–29, strengthening rural infrastructure and accessibility.

Digital Push in Agriculture

The government launched the Digital Agriculture Mission in September 2025 with an allocation of ₹2,817 crore to modernize farming.

Key initiatives:

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture

• Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) for accurate and timely crop data

This digital push aims to make agriculture more data-driven, efficient, and inclusive, especially for small and marginal farmers.

Conclusion

The first year of Modi 3.0 marks a decisive shift in governance—combining firm internal security measures with welfare expansion. From eliminating Maoist strongholds to securing healthcare and housing for the vulnerable, the government is pursuing an integrated model of development-led security. Sustaining this balance is crucial to achieving long-term peace, prosperity, and inclusive growth in India’s rural and conflict-prone regions.