Intensifying Anti-Naxal Drive, Sustaining Welfare Focus

June 9, 2025

Why in News?

In its first year, the current government has intensified efforts against the Naxal insurgency while expanding key welfare schemes from earlier terms.

What’s in Today’s Article?

Final Push Against Naxals Underway
Ayushman Bharat Expanded to Cover All Above 70
Boost to Rural Housing: PMAY-G Extended Till 2029

Final Push Against Naxals Underway

The government has intensified efforts to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), aiming to end the decades-long Naxal insurgency by March 31, 2026, as declared by Union Home Minister.
Major Gains in Maoist Strongholds
- Security forces have made significant advances in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha, particularly in the Bijapur-Sukma-Dantewada tri-junction.
- The use of forward operating bases, enhanced road connectivity, and targeted operations have been central to the strategy.
Surge in Maoist Casualties
- In Chhattisgarh alone, 209 Maoists were killed in the first five months of 2025—nearly matching the 219 killed in all of 2024.
- In contrast, only 53 were killed across India in 2023.
- The most notable success was the killing of CPI Maoist general secretary Basavaraju in May 2025.
  - Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed this the first time in 30 years that a leader of such high rank has been eliminated in India's fight against Naxalism.
Operation Black Forest: Massive Success

Operation Black Forest was launched on April 21. It was a bold and carefully planned three-week joint campaign by the CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police.
It successfully dismantled the Maoists’ strongest fortress in the Kurragutta hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
As part of Operation Black Forest:
- 54 Naxalites were arrested
- 84 surrendered across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra

Key Factors Behind the Success
- The progress is attributed to:
  - Strong political will
  - Intelligence-led operations
  - Enhanced state-centre coordination
  - Active participation of local units like Chhattisgarh’s District Reserve Guards
Setbacks and Challenges Remain
The Road Ahead: Security and Development
- To fully neutralize LWE, the government must sustain military pressure while also ensuring governance, infrastructure, and welfare outreach in the affected regions.

Ayushman Bharat Expanded to Cover All Above 70

In a landmark move under Modi 3.0, the government expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) in September to include all citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income or social status.
World’s Largest Health Insurance Scheme
- Launched in 2018, PM-JAY already provided Rs 5 lakh annual health cover to over 40% of India’s poorest families, making it the world’s largest public health insurance programme.
Addressing India’s Ageing Population
- This expansion anticipates a major demographic shift.
- India’s elderly population (60+) is projected to rise from 103 million in 2011 to 319 million by 2050, increasing from 8.6% to 19.5% of the total population.
- According to the India Ageing Report 2023, only 20% of the senior population currently has any form of insurance coverage, highlighting the significance of universal health coverage for the elderly.

Boost to Rural Housing: PMAY-G Extended Till 2029

The government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) till 2029, aiming to build 2 crore additional rural houses.
So far, Rs 34,000 crore has been released to states, and 84.45 lakh houses have been sanctioned.
Improved Rural Connectivity: PMGSY-IV Launched
- Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV, the Centre plans to connect 25,000 villages with all-weather roads by 2028-29, significantly enhancing rural infrastructure and accessibility.
Digitising Indian Agriculture
- In September, the government launched the Digital Agriculture Mission, allocating Rs 2,817 crore. Key initiatives include:
  - Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture
  - Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) for better crop data and planning