In contemporary India, extremism-affected regions particularly parts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh continue to face deep-rooted socio-economic, political, and developmental challenges that extend far beyond the narrow framework of law and order, and are instead linked with broader issues of uneven development, resource inequality, and social exclusion. The problem of extremism is closely associated with historical injustices, lack of inclusive growth, weak implementation of welfare policies, and the long-standing marginalization of tribal and rural communities living in resource-rich but economically underdeveloped regions. In many of these areas, despite the abundance of natural resources such as forests, minerals, and water, local populations have not received proportional benefits of development; instead, they have often experienced exploitation of resources, environmental degradation, and displacement from their traditional habitats. After independence, India adopted a development strategy based on rapid industrialization, mining expansion, construction of large dams, establishment of heavy industries, and infrastructure development, which significantly contributed to national economic growth and modernization. However, this model of development was not evenly distributed and disproportionately affected tribal communities, forest dwellers, and rural populations, who were often displaced from their ancestral lands without adequate rehabilitation or sustainable livelihood alternatives. The loss of access to forests, land, and traditional resources, along with inadequate compensation and limited participation in decision-making processes, further deepened their sense of exclusion and injustice. Over time, these structural inequalities, combined with poverty, unemployment, lack of education, poor healthcare facilities, and weak political representation, created an environment of frustration, insecurity, and alienation among affected communities. In several regions, these accumulated grievances have contributed to a growing mistrust towards state institutions and governance structures, which in some cases has been exploited by extremist groups to mobilize local populations. Thus, extremism in India is not merely a security challenge, but a complex socio-economic and developmental issue rooted in long-term structural imbalances and social marginalization.
Dr. Pawan Kumar (Fri,) studied this question.