Maharashtra Urban Maoism Bill 2025 – UPSC Notes
What is Urban Maoism?
- Refers to left-wing extremist ideologies operating in urban areas through intellectual, cultural, or civil society fronts.
- Allegedly includes urban sympathizers who support or assist Naxal/Maoist insurgents.
Maharashtra Urban Maoism Control Bill, 2025 (Proposed)
Objective:
To criminalize support, funding, or propagation of Maoist/Naxalite ideology in urban areas and institutions.
️ Key Provisions (Expected/Inferred):
- Definition Expansion:
- Urban Maoism includes indirect aid: literature, digital content, student groups, etc.
- Prosecution Powers:
- Police may arrest individuals for speech, online content, associations.
- Provisions for detention without bail under certain conditions (similar to UAPA).
- Ban on Organizations:
- Power to ban or blacklist NGOs, media outlets, and student bodies suspected of Maoist links.
- Digital Surveillance:
- Enhanced cyber-monitoring to trace online recruitment and propaganda.
- Education Watch:
- Institutions may need to report political activities or affiliations of student groups.
Criticism
| Concern | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Freedom of Expression | Activists fear it may target dissenters, academics, or rights defenders. |
| Vague Definitions | “Urban Maoist” can be broadly interpreted, risking misuse. |
| Overlap with UAPA | Critics say it duplicates provisions already in force. |
Relevance for UPSC
GS Paper 2 – Governance, Constitution
- Article 19: Freedom of speech vs. national security
- Centre-State Relations: State anti-terror law vs. central laws like UAPA
GS Paper 3 – Internal Security
- Left Wing Extremism (LWE) trends, strategies
- Cyber and ideological warfare
- Urban support networks
Ethics Paper
- Conflict between liberty and national security
- Case study: Misuse of power in the name of security
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. Discuss the challenges posed by Urban Maoism in India. Do you think state-level legislation, like Maharashtra’s proposed bill, is the right way to address it?
What is Urban Naxalism?
Urban Naxalism refers to the ideological and logistical support provided to left-wing extremists (Naxalites) by sympathizers operating from urban areas such as:
- Universities
- NGOs
- Media houses
- Activist groups
- Civil society organizations
The term was popularized in 2018 and is often used to refer to urban-based individuals who allegedly support Maoist insurgents by intellectual, financial, or digital means.
Background & Evolution
- Naxalism began as a peasant uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal (1967).
- Initially rural, modern Naxalism strategically extends into urban domains for:
- Recruitment
- Propaganda
- Fundraising
- Legal cover and advocacy
Key Characteristics of Urban Naxalism
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Ideological Propagation | Through literature, media, academic discourse |
| Recruitment Hubs | Students & professionals in urban spaces |
| Tech Use | Encryption, social media for communication & propaganda |
| Cover Organizations | NGOs, cultural forums used to mask Maoist affiliations |
️ Legal and Security Concerns
- Covered under:
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967
- Indian Penal Code (IPC) – Sections 121, 124A (Sedition)
- Intelligence Bureau (IB) and NIA track networks of urban-based LWE supporters.
- Supreme Court rulings stress the need for a balance between national security and individual liberties.
🛑 Criticisms
| Concern | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Vagueness | No legal definition; can be misused to stifle dissent |
| Targeting Intellectuals | Academics and activists often falsely accused |
| Free Speech | Potential violation of Article 19 (freedom of expression) |
| Media Misuse | Sensationalism can override facts in high-profile arrests |
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Maharashtra Urban Maoism Bill 2025
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Maharashtra Urban Maoism Bill 2025
GS Paper 2 – Governance & Polity
- Article 19 and 21 – Rights vs. Restrictions
- Role of civil society and constitutional protections
- Centre-State relations on law and order
GS Paper 3 – Internal Security
- Left Wing Extremism (LWE): Rural + Urban strategies
- Role of IB, NIA, local police
- Use of technology in radicalization
GS Paper 4 – Ethics
- Conflict between liberty and security
- Ethical governance and human rights abuse prevention
2023
- Winning of Hearts and Minds’ in terrorism-affected areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss the measures adopted by the Government in this respect as part of the conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders. to ferry arms / ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat.
- 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.
- Give out the major sources of terror funding in India and the 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
- Discuss the types of organized crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organized crime that exists at the national and transnational levels.
- What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organizational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security.
- What are the different elements of cyber security? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy.
- Naxalism is a social, economic and development issues manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism.
2021
- Keeping in view India’s internal security, analyse the impact or cross-border cyber-attacks. Also discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks.
- Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels.
- Analyse the multidimensional challenges posed by external state and non-state actors, to the internal security of India. Also discuss measures required to be taken to combat these threats.
- Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of terrorism.
Table of Contents
2020
- Discuss different types of cybercrimes and measures required to be taken to fight the menace.
- For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favourable perception among locals.
- What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in Eastern part of India? What strategy should Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas?
- Analyse internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard.
2019
- 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.
- What is Cyber Dome Project? Explain how it can be useful in controlling internet crimes in India.
- Indian Government has recently strengthened the anti-terrorism laws by amending the unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA act. Analyze the changes in the context of prevailing security environment while discussing the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human rights organizations.
- Cross-Border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India-Myanmar border. Also, discuss the steps to counter the challenges.
2018
- The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same.
- 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.
- Data security has assumed significant importance in the digitized world due to rising cyber-crimes. The Justice B. N. Srikrishna Committee Report addresses issues related to data security. What, in your view, are the strengths and weaknesses of the Report relating to protection of personal data in cyber space?
- India’s proximity to two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What countermeasures should be taken to prevent the same?