Ranked 14th in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, India has drastically reduced terror incidents since 2019 through resolute state action.

India's terrorism and insurgency map illustration

Manifestation of Terrorism in India

1. Infrastructure Targeting: Terrorists actively attack strategic projects, seen in the October 2024 Gagangir attack on the Z-Morh tunnel in J&K.
2. Soft Targets: Civilian tourism is targeted to incite panic, such as the June 2024 Reasi ambush on Hindu pilgrims.
3. Aerial Terrorism: Groups increasingly use UAVs for arms and narcotics smuggling; the BSF intercepted a record 125 drones at the Punjab border in 2024.
4. Left-Wing Extremism (LWE): Maoists violently oppose state authority, though 2024 saw LWE fatalities fall below 100 for the first time historically.
5. Digital Radicalisation: Cyberspace is heavily exploited for ideological indoctrination and crypto-financing, breeding self-radicalised urban "lone-wolf" modules.

Counter Measures Adopted by the State

1. Legislative Integration: Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 explicitly defines "Terrorist Acts" directly within mainstream penal law.
2. Judicial Strictness: The Supreme Court in Gurwinder Singh (2024) affirmed that the "bail is rule" doctrine is inapplicable under UAPA.
3. Zero Security Vacuum: To eradicate LWE by 2026, the State built 33 forward camps in former Maoist strongholds like Budha Pahad.
4. Financial Strangulation: India’s robust anti-terror financing framework achieved elite compliance in the 2024 FATF Mutual Evaluation Report.
5. Global Coordination: India drives cross-border intelligence sharing and technology protocols via the Quad Counterterrorism Working Group.

India must now address the FATF’s concern over pending terror-financing trials. Fast-tracking courts and expanding AI-driven predictive intelligence will cement a resilient, zero-tolerance security ecosystem.