Revision summary
North-East insurgency survives, not only starts, because of hill terrain and retreat across Myanmar and other borders. Identity, homeland and migration politics continue to supply recruits after decades. Extortion on contracts and highways, plus narcotics, fund groups when popular support falls. Splinter factions outlive peace talks; AFSPA-era resentment can still be used in propaganda. Mizoram-type accords plus Act East connectivity show that persistence is political and economic, not inevitable.
Model answer
Introduction
The North-East has seen armed groups since the 1950s, from Naga hills to Assam, Manipur and Tripura. Some peace accords have worked in part; other outfits splinter and return. Survival of insurgency is not the same as its origin. Groups last because terrain, identity politics, money, and a porous frontier still give them a living, even when the original demand has been diluted.
Body
Major reasons the armed insurgency survives
- Terrain and logistics: hills, forest and monsoon tracks favour ambush and hideouts; security forces cannot hold every ridge the way they hold a plains district.
- Porous borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan (historically) allow safe havens, arms, and retreat; even after Bhutan's 2003 operations, Myanmar camps have mattered for several groups.
- Identity and homeland claims: Naga integration, Assamese versus 'foreigner' politics after migration, Kuki-Meitei-Naga triangles in Manipur, and tribal autonomy demands keep a political story that recruits youth.
- Demographic fear in Assam and Tripura, rooted in Partition and later migration, feeds groups that claim to defend the 'sons of the soil' even after electoral politics occupies the same space.
- Underdevelopment and isolation: a thin industrial base, the old Chicken's Neck connectivity, and high unemployment make extortion and 'taxes' on highways, contractors and oil a parallel economy that funds cadres.
- Splintering of talks: when a faction signs an accord, a hard-line split continues the gun; Naga talks illustrate how a ceasefire can coexist with residual violence.
- Easy weapons and narcotics on the Myanmar-China edge, and links with organised crime, replace declining political donations.
- Governance gaps: delayed accords, corruption in local contracts, and heavy-handed security (including resentment around Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in notified areas) can refresh the recruiter's narrative even when the public is tired of the underground.
- Ethnic inter-group rivalry means one surrender does not pacify a district; another community's outfit fills the vacuum.
- External political sympathy and, in earlier decades, alleged foreign intelligence play, gave oxygen; even reduced, the habit of looking across the border remains.
Why this is persistence, not fate
- Where roads, Act East trade, and credible Sixth Schedule or accord politics deliver jobs, cadres fade, as in parts of Mizoram after the 1986 accord.
- Survival is therefore reproduced by money, hills, and unfinished political settlement, not by a single ancient hatred that policy cannot touch.
Flow diagram
flowchart TD T[Terrain porous borders] --> S[Survival of armed groups] I[Identity migration homelands] --> S M[Extortion narcotics] --> S P[Splintered accords AFSPA resentment] --> S A[Act East jobs political settlement] --> E[Fade of cadres]
Conclusion
Armed insurgency has lasted in the North-East because hills and borders give sanctuary, identity and migration politics still recruit, and extortion plus narcotics pay the gun when ideology thins. Splintered talks and development that does not reach the hill district keep the cycle. Lasting peace needs settlement of core political claims, Myanmar-border cooperation, and livelihoods that beat the underground tax, not only more battalions.
Quick related
Students also ask
-
One of the intended objectives of Union Budget 2017-18 is to 'transform, energize and clean India'. Analyse the measures proposed in the Budget 2017-18 to achieve the objective.
Next question in the 2017 paper (Q11). View answer →
-
Is insurgency in the North-East only about underdevelopment?
Underdevelopment funds and recruits it, but identity, borders and unfinished accords are equally why the gun lasts.
-
Do peace accords end all armed groups?
They can end the main war, as in Mizoram. Splinters and rival ethnic outfits often continue unless the political deal is wide and livelihoods follow.
PYQ trend
When UPSC asked this
Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.
-
2025 · Q10 · GS III · 10 marks
The Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026. What do you understand by LWE and how are the people affected by it? What measures have been taken by the government to eliminate LWE? -
2023 · Q19 · GS III · 15 marks
What are the internal security challenges being faced by India? Give out the role of Central Intelligence and Investigative Agencies tasked to counter such threats. -
2023 · Q20 · GS III · 15 marks
Give out the major sources of terror funding in India and efforts being made to curtail these sources. In the light of this, also discuss the aim and objective of the ' No Money for Terror [NMFT]' Conference recently held at New Delhi in November 2022. -
2022 · Q20 · GS III · 15 marks
Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues gest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism. -
2019 · Q9 · GS III · 10 marks
The banning of 'Jammat-e-Islami' in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize influence of OGWs. -
2018 · Q10 · GS III · 10 marks
Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend, but still affects many parts of the country. Briefly explain the Government of India's approach to counter the challenges posed by LWE. (150 Words, 10 Marks). -
2016 · Q17 · GS III · 12 marks
The terms 'Hot Pursuit' and 'Surgical Strikes' are often used in connection with armed action against terrorist attacks. Discuss the strategic impact of such actions. -
2015 · Q19 · GS III · 12 marks
The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple displacements. With Malkangiri and Naxalbari foci, discuss the corrective strategies needed to win the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens back into mainstream of social and economic growth.
More from this paper
Q1 · UPSC Mains 2017 · GS III · 10 marks
Among several factors for India's potential growth, savings rate is the most effective one. Do you agree? What are the other factors available for growth potential?
Indian Economy
Savings finance investment and matter for potential growth, as in the Harrod-Domar link between the savings rate and output. India already saves a large share of GDP, mainly in households, so a higher rate is not the only or always the strongest lever. Idle gold and land savings, or a high incremental capital-output ratio, waste the savings effort. Other factors are investment quality, skills, infrastructure, institutions, technology and financial intermediation. Jan Dhan, pensions, GST, Make in India and transport programmes try to put savings to work.
Q2 · UPSC Mains 2017 · GS III · 10 marks
Account for the failure of manufacturing sector in achieving the goal of labour-intensive exports rather than capital-intensive exports. Suggest measures for more labour-intensive rather than capital-intensive exports.
Indian Economy
India's export growth after reforms was real, but the mix was more petroleum, engineering and chemicals than garments and leather. Rigid factory labour rules, costly land and power, and capital subsidies encouraged automation and small size. Bangladesh and Vietnam took buyer-driven apparel chains that hire many workers. Correctives are labour flexibility, the apparel and leather packages, MUDRA and clusters, GST refunds, Sagarmala, and skills tied to orders. The aim is jobs per unit of export, not only a larger export bill.
Q3 · UPSC Mains 2017 · GS III · 10 marks
Examine the developments of Airports in India through Joint Ventures under Public-Private Partnership(PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the authorities in this regard.
Infrastructure
AAI could not fund metro airport expansion alone, so PPP joint ventures were used for greenfield and brownfield hubs. Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin show greenfield JVs; Delhi and Mumbai show brownfield OMDA with AAI equity. AERA regulates major-airport tariffs; later AAI rounds tried to PPP more State capitals. UDAN supports regional routes that do not attract the same private capital. Challenges are land, tariff disputes, high revenue-share bids, exclusive contract clauses, and weak PPP appetite for small airports.
Toppers' copies
Toppers' copies for this question will be uploaded soon.