Editorial Summary
Following India’s declaration as Maoist-free since March 2026 — after decades of Left Wing Extremism in the Red Corridor — The Hindu argues that military and police success against the CPI (Maoist) insurgency has not resolved its root causes. The editorial distinguishes between “negative peace” (absence of armed conflict) and “positive peace” (presence of justice, inclusion, and rights) and warns that without the latter, the conditions for re-emergence of extremism remain.
Background: The Maoist Insurgency and Its Decline
The Naxalite-Maoist insurgency has been active in India’s central and eastern tribal belt since the 1960s, with its most intense phase in the 2000s–2010s across the Red Corridor covering Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
Why Adivasis Joined the Maoist Movement
- Land alienation — large-scale displacement by mining and dam projects without consent or fair compensation
- Forest rights denial — forests officially classified as government land; adivasis criminalised for collecting forest produce
- Lack of governance — absence of schools, hospitals, roads, and courts in remote tribal areas
- PESA non-implementation — Panchayati Raj Extension to Scheduled Areas (1996) required self-governance through gram sabhas, but states routinely bypassed gram sabha consent for land acquisition
The Declaration and Its Limits
India’s declaration of being Maoist-free refers to the absence of CPI (Maoist) as an effective armed force — primarily due to:
- Elimination of top CPI(M) leadership in security operations (Bastar, 2024–25)
- Surrender of ~1,500 cadres over 2023–25 under state rehabilitation schemes
- Breakdown of supply and communication networks in Bastar forests
However, the editorial argues:
- Security success ≠ development delivery — roads, schools, hospitals have not reached interior villages
- Gram Sabha rights under PESA — states like Chhattisgarh have not enacted conforming PESA rules in full
- Mining pressures continue — Bastar’s iron ore, coal, and bauxite deposits are under intense commercial pressure; displacement concerns persist
- Rehabilitation is incomplete — surrendered cadres face social stigma and lack economic opportunity
PESA 1996 — Key Provisions and Gaps
| Provision | What It Requires | Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Gram Sabha consent | Required before any land acquisition or mining in Fifth Schedule areas | Often bypassed or manipulated |
| Community forest rights | Gram Sabha to manage minor forest produce | States have granted individual rights but limited community rights |
| Money-lending regulation | Gram Sabha authority over usurious lending | Largely unimplemented |
| Minor minerals | Gram Sabha to give recommendations for minor mineral leases | Revenue departments routinely ignore |
| Self-governance | Habitation-level gram sabhas as units | Most states use revenue village as unit (larger, more diluted) |
The editorial’s core argument: PESA implementation is the litmus test of whether India treats Adivasi trust-building as a priority or an afterthought.
What Positive Peace Requires
- Full PESA rule enactment — all Fifth Schedule states must pass PESA-conforming rules; Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have dragged their feet
- Forest Rights Act implementation — community forest resource rights (CFR), not just individual pattas
- Consultative infrastructure projects — Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for all projects in tribal areas
- Accountability for security excesses — documented cases of civilian casualties in anti-Maoist operations need independent inquiry
- Economic inclusion — tribal cooperatives, NTFP (non-timber forest produce) value chains, SHGs
UPSC Relevance
Prelims
- PESA enacted: 1996 (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act)
- Fifth Schedule: Protects tribal areas in 10 states
- India declared Maoist-free: as of March 2026
- Red Corridor states: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, AP
- FRA (Forest Rights Act): 2006
Mains Angles
- GS2 — Tribal Rights and Governance: Critically analyse the implementation of PESA in Fifth Schedule states. What structural reforms are needed for meaningful tribal self-governance?
- GS3 — Internal Security: Examine the relationship between development deficits and Left Wing Extremism. Was India’s anti-Maoist strategy overly securitised?
- GS2 — Social Justice: Distinguish between negative peace and positive peace in the context of post-conflict tribal areas. What does sustainable peace require beyond security operations?
Facts Corner
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| India declared Maoist-free | Since March 2026 |
| PESA enacted | 1996 |
| FRA enacted | 2006 |
| Fifth Schedule states (10) | Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, HP, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, MP, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana |
| Key demand | PESA gram sabha consent for land/mining |
| Core editorial argument | Negative peace (no guns) ≠ Positive peace (rights + justice) |
Source: After Maoism, The Next Battle Is for Adivasi Trust — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Editorial Analysis
