Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Centre Retains Security Funding for 38 Former Naxal-Hit Districts
The government says no district in the country is currently officially affected by Left-Wing Extremism.
However, 38 districts that experienced Maoist violence in the past will continue receiving security funding.
These districts are spread across nine states.
Chhattisgarh has the most, with 13 districts, while Odisha has nine.
The money can help states pay for certain security and counter-insurgency costs.
Officials also want continued surveillance and development work in these areas.
This is meant to stop extremist groups from returning.
The government says armed Naxalism has been curbed, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned about people influenced by Maoist ideas.
The Union home ministry will continue Security Related Expenditure support for 38 districts across nine states.
The districts are classified as “Legacy and Thrust” areas despite no district now being officially LWE-affected.
Chhattisgarh has 13 such districts, followed by Odisha with nine, and Bihar and Jharkhand with four each.
West Singhbhum was moved from the “District of Concern” category to “Legacy and Thrust.”
The assistance is intended to maintain security, surveillance and development efforts and prevent Maoist groups from regrouping.
- Who
- The Union home ministry, state governments and the 38 former Maoist-violence-affected districts.
- What
- The Centre will continue Security Related Expenditure assistance for 38 “Legacy and Thrust” districts.
- When
- The continuation follows the Centre’s latest classification revision; West Singhbhum was recently moved into the Legacy and Thrust category.
- Where
- Across nine states: Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
- Why
- To consolidate security gains, maintain surveillance and development efforts, and prevent extremist groups from regrouping.
- Districts covered
- 38 districts
- States covered
- Nine states
- Classification
- Legacy and Thrust
- Largest state allocation
- Chhattisgarh, with 13 districts
- Second-largest allocation
- Odisha, with nine districts
- Former District of Concern
- West Singhbhum was recently moved to the Legacy and Thrust category
- Funding mechanism
- The Security Related Expenditure scheme reimburses states for certain recurring counter-insurgency and internal-security expenses
- National policy
- The National Policy and Action Plan to Address Left-Wing Extremism has been implemented since 2015