Maoist Insurgency Nears End: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha Remain Last Bastions

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah sets March 31, 2026, deadline for a Naxal-free Bharat.
• Approximately 400 senior Maoist cadres are active across Chhattisgarh (200), Jharkhand (100), and Odisha (75).
• The Maoist movement has shifted from a 'corridor' to a 'residue' with fragmented clusters and weakened command structures.
• Sustained multi-agency operations, improved intelligence, drone surveillance, and governance delivery have curtailed Maoist influence.
• Recruitment pipelines have dried up, and surrenders are increasing, but small units still pose a threat through IED attacks.

Why It Matters: India's Maoist insurgency is significantly weakened, with its remnants concentrated in three states, facing an endgame.