CURRENT AFFAIRS | APRIL 1, 2026
CLAT GK + INTERNAL SECURITY & CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
On the March 31, 2026 deadline set by Home Minister Amit Shah, 24 Maoists surrendered in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, marking the symbolic end of India’s decades-long Left Wing Extremism (LWE) insurgency. Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared India “Maoist-free” — a historic milestone achieved through a three-pronged national strategy of security operations, infrastructure development, and restoration of tribal rights. However, senior Maoist commanders Madvi Hidma, Nambala Keshuva Rao (Basavaraju), and Ganesh Uike remain at large.
UAPA 2008 (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act): The primary legislation under which CPI(Maoist) and other Naxal organisations are designated as terrorist and unlawful organisations. Enables detention, property seizure, and extended custody without bail in terror cases.
Fifth Schedule — Article 244: Governs administration of Scheduled and Tribal Areas. The Governor has special powers under the Fifth Schedule to direct that any central or state law shall not apply to Scheduled Areas — a critical constitutional safeguard for tribal rights that Maoists exploited to claim they were the only protectors of adivasi interests.
PESA Act 1996: Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act extends Panchayati Raj institutions to Fifth Schedule tribal areas, giving gram sabhas power over land, forest resources, and minor forest produce — intended to empower tribals through democratic participation rather than armed insurgency.
Entry 1, List II (State List): “Public order” is a state subject under Schedule VII. While law and order in LWE areas is primarily a state responsibility, the Centre deploys CRPF, COBRA, and other central forces under Article 355 (protecting states from internal disturbance).
Article 19(1)(b): Guarantees the right to assemble peaceably and without arms — the constitutional distinction between legitimate peaceful protest and armed insurgency which has no constitutional protection.
The March 31, 2026 deadline was set by HM Amit Shah in 2024 when he declared India would be “Naxal-free” by that date. Security forces — primarily CRPF and its specialized jungle warfare unit COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) — conducted sustained operations in Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Sukma. In 2025 alone, 364 Naxals were neutralised, 1,022 arrested, and 2,337 surrendered. From 2015-2025, over 10,000 Maoists surrendered nationally.
The development on the ground was equally transformative: 3,000+ mobile towers were established in previously Maoist-controlled areas; 12,000 km of roads were built connecting remote tribal villages; and 5,000+ schools were opened. Over 5,000 mobile towers gave internet connectivity to villages in affected districts. Badesetti Panchayat in Sukma became the first officially declared Maoist-free panchayat in Chhattisgarh, following the surrender of 22 Maoists.
The National Policy on LWE rests on three pillars: security (police modernisation, COBRA operations), development (roads, mobile towers, schools under Aspirational Districts Programme), and rights (PESA implementation, Forest Rights Act, tribal welfare schemes). This three-pronged approach is coordinated by the MHA’s Internal Security Division. Senior Maoist leader Papa Rao (facing 45 criminal cases including the 2010 Tadmetla ambush killing 76 security personnel) also announced surrender ahead of the deadline.
LWE is a perennial CLAT topic that connects constitutional law, tribal rights, and internal security. Key test areas:
- UAPA 2008 — provisions, designated organisations, bail conditions
- Fifth Schedule (Art. 244) vs. Sixth Schedule — which states, which protections
- PESA 1996 — Gram Sabha powers, applicability to Fifth Schedule areas only
- COBRA — what it stands for, which force it belongs to (CRPF)
- Art. 355 — Centre’s duty to protect states from internal disturbance
- National Policy on LWE — three pillars
Likely question: “Under which act are Maoist organisations declared unlawful? / Which Schedule governs tribal areas in most Indian states?”
| Fact | Detail |
| Deadline | March 31, 2026 (set by HM Amit Shah) |
| Surrendered (Bijapur) | 24 Maoists on deadline day |
| Key Force | COBRA unit of CRPF (jungle warfare specialists) |
| Key Legislation | UAPA 2008, Fifth Schedule (Art. 244), PESA 1996 |
| Infrastructure Built | 3,000+ towers, 12,000 km roads, 5,000+ schools |
COBRA Full Form: Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (unit of CRPF)
Schedules Quick Reference:
- Fifth Schedule (Art. 244) = Tribal areas in most states (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, Odisha, AP, Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, HP)
- Sixth Schedule (Art. 244A) = Tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram (Autonomous District Councils)
- PESA 1996 applies ONLY to Fifth Schedule areas
3-Pillar National LWE Policy: Security + Development + Rights of Tribals
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
