UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Naxal-Free India

Q1. The operational doctrine 'SAMADHAN' to combat Left Wing Extremism was enunciated in 2017 at a review meeting of LWE-affected States chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. Shri Rajnath Singh, the then Union Home Minister
  • B. Shri Amit Shah, the then Union Home Minister
  • C. Shri P. Chidambaram, the then Union Home Minister
  • D. Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, the then Union Home Minister

Q2. With reference to the SAMADHAN doctrine articulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2017 to counter Left Wing Extremism, consider the following expansions of the letters of the acronym: 1. S — Smart Leadership 2. M — Motivation and Training 3. D — Decentralised Command Structure 4. N — No access to Financing Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. S — Smart Leadership
  2. M — Motivation and Training
  3. D — Decentralised Command Structure
  4. N — No access to Financing
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the 'Vishwaas-Nirman-Jan Kalyan' three-pillar framework guiding India's current strategy against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), consider the following statements: 1. The Vishwaas pillar covers strengthened security operations, structured surrender-cum-rehabilitation and sustained community outreach. 2. The Nirman pillar emphasises expansion of physical and digital connectivity and improved governance presence in remote LWE-affected areas. 3. 'Jan Kalyan' was originally articulated as the welfare component of the SAMADHAN doctrine adopted in 2017. 4. The three-pillar framework is implemented by the Left Wing Extremism Division of the Ministry of Defence. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Vishwaas pillar covers strengthened security operations, structured surrender-cum-rehabilitation and sustained community outreach.
  2. The Nirman pillar emphasises expansion of physical and digital connectivity and improved governance presence in remote LWE-affected areas.
  3. 'Jan Kalyan' was originally articulated as the welfare component of the SAMADHAN doctrine adopted in 2017.
  4. The three-pillar framework is implemented by the Left Wing Extremism Division of the Ministry of Defence.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q4. The three-pillar strategy of 'Vishwaas, Nirman and Jan Kalyan' that culminated in the declaration of an effectively 'Naxal-free India' on 31 March 2026 is implemented at the central level by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. National Security Council Secretariat under the Prime Minister's Office
  • B. Left Wing Extremism Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Internal Security Vertical of NITI Aayog
  • D. Department of Border Management under the Ministry of Defence

Q5. Who among the following is regarded as the principal ideologue of the 1967 Naxalbari peasant uprising in West Bengal, credited with authoring the 'Historic Eight Documents' that became the ideological foundation of the Naxalite movement?

  • A. Kanu Sanyal
  • B. Charu Majumdar
  • C. Jangal Santhal
  • D. Ganapathy

Q6. With reference to the origin and formation of Left-Wing Extremist organisations in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Naxalbari peasant uprising of 1967 originated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. 2. The Communist Party of India (Maoist) was constituted in 2004 through the merger of the Maoist Communist Centre of India and the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) People's War. 3. The CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation was one of the two constituent parties whose merger formed the CPI (Maoist) in 2004. 4. The CPI (Maoist), along with all its front organisations, has been banned as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act since 2009. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Naxalbari peasant uprising of 1967 originated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
  2. The Communist Party of India (Maoist) was constituted in 2004 through the merger of the Maoist Communist Centre of India and the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) People's War.
  3. The CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation was one of the two constituent parties whose merger formed the CPI (Maoist) in 2004.
  4. The CPI (Maoist), along with all its front organisations, has been banned as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act since 2009.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q7. Which one of the following operations, conducted in 2025, has been described by the Government of India as the biggest-ever anti-Naxal operation, resulting in the neutralisation of 31 Maoists at Karreguttalu Hill on the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border?

  • A. Operation Green Hunt
  • B. Operation Prahar
  • C. Operation Black Forest
  • D. Operation Octopus

Q8. The 2025 'Operation Black Forest' at Karreguttalu Hill was spearheaded by which one of the following Central Armed Police Forces, working in coordination with the District Reserve Guard and Chhattisgarh Police?

  • A. Border Security Force (BSF)
  • B. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
  • C. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including its CoBRA battalions
  • D. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

Q9. With reference to the central schemes implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, consider the following statements: 1. Under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, LWE-affected states are reimbursed for training and operational needs of security forces, rehabilitation of surrendered cadres and ex-gratia to families of victims. 2. Under the Civic Action Programme (CAP), funds are released to Central Armed Police Forces deployed in LWE areas to conduct welfare activities for the local population. 3. The Road Connectivity Project for LWE Areas (RCPLWE) is implemented by the Left Wing Extremism Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 4. The Special Central Assistance (SCA) for most LWE affected districts is implemented as a sub-scheme of the umbrella scheme 'Modernization of Police Forces'. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, LWE-affected states are reimbursed for training and operational needs of security forces, rehabilitation of surrendered cadres and ex-gratia to families of victims.
  2. Under the Civic Action Programme (CAP), funds are released to Central Armed Police Forces deployed in LWE areas to conduct welfare activities for the local population.
  3. The Road Connectivity Project for LWE Areas (RCPLWE) is implemented by the Left Wing Extremism Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  4. The Special Central Assistance (SCA) for most LWE affected districts is implemented as a sub-scheme of the umbrella scheme 'Modernization of Police Forces'.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q10. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs' October 2025 review of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts, how many districts in India were categorised as 'Most LWE Affected'?

  • A. 3
  • B. 6
  • C. 11
  • D. 18

Q11. With reference to the geographical footprint of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India, consider the following statements: 1. The total number of LWE-affected districts in the country has reduced from 126 in 2014 to 11 in 2025. 2. The number of districts categorised as 'Most LWE-affected' has come down from 36 in 2014 to 3 in 2025. 3. As of December 2025, all of the residual LWE-affected districts in the country lie within the State of Chhattisgarh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The total number of LWE-affected districts in the country has reduced from 126 in 2014 to 11 in 2025.
  2. The number of districts categorised as 'Most LWE-affected' has come down from 36 in 2014 to 3 in 2025.
  3. As of December 2025, all of the residual LWE-affected districts in the country lie within the State of Chhattisgarh.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Within the Government of India, the policy, coordination and monitoring of anti-Naxal measures across the Red Corridor States, including the SAMADHAN doctrine and the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, is the responsibility of which one of the following?

  • A. Left Wing Extremism Division, Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Internal Security Wing, Ministry of Defence
  • C. Tribal Development Division, Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • D. Aspirational Districts Cell, NITI Aayog

Q13. Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, under which the CPI (Maoist) was notified as a terrorist organisation, specifically empowers the Central Government to:

  • A. Add an organisation to, or remove it from, the First Schedule by notification, where it believes the organisation is involved in terrorism
  • B. Detain, without trial, office-bearers of a banned organisation for up to two years on the recommendation of an Advisory Board
  • C. Attach the movable and immovable properties of any individual judicially declared a terrorist by a Designated Court
  • D. Prosecute members of unlawful associations under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908, in addition to UAPA offences

Q14. The 2015 National Policy and Action Plan to address Left Wing Extremism is operationalised at the Union level by which one of the following?

  • A. Left Wing Extremism Division, Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Internal Security Division, Ministry of Defence
  • C. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • D. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development