| Rank | State/UT | Estimated Terrorism/Insurgency Cases (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jammu and Kashmir | 159 |
| 2 | Assam | 62 |
| 3 | Manipur | 51 |
| 4 | Chhattisgarh | 52 |
| 5 | Jharkhand | 41 |
| 6 | Bihar | 20 |
| 7 | Odisha | 18 |
| 8 | Maharashtra | 15 |
| 9 | Andhra Pradesh | 12 |
| 10 | Telangana | 10 |
| 11 | Madhya Pradesh | 8 |
| 12 | West Bengal | 7 |
| 13 | Tripura | 6 |
| 14 | Nagaland | 5 |
| 15 | Mizoram | 4 |
| 16 | Meghalaya | 3 |
| 17 | Arunachal Pradesh | 2 |
| 18 | Haryana | 2 |
| 19 | Uttar Pradesh | 1 |
| 20 | Punjab | 1 |
| 21 | Rajasthan | 1 |
| 22 | Gujarat | 1 |
| 23 | Karnataka | 1 |
| 24 | Kerala | 1 |
| 25 | Tamil Nadu | 1 |
| 26 | Himachal Pradesh | 0 |
| 27 | Uttarakhand | 0 |
| 28 | Sikkim | 0 |
| 29 | Goa | 0 |
| 30 | Puducherry | 0 |
| 31 | Chandigarh | 0 |
| 32 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 0 |
| 33 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 0 |
| 34 | Ladakh | 0 |
| 35 | Lakshadweep | 0 |
Terrorism incidents in India for 2025 encompass attacks, bombings, and insurgency-related violence such as Naxalite assaults or ethnic conflicts, posing threats to lives and stability.
These occurrences, frequently addressed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), highlight persistent security issues.
This article analyzes an estimated ranking of terrorism and insurgency-related incidents across India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) for 2025, detailing the statistics, elucidating why certain states encounter greater threats, and investigating the underlying causes.
The estimates are derived from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 data, reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) 2024, and preliminary trends for 2025, as comprehensive data for 2025 will not be available until late 2026.
The 2025 projection anticipates approximately 158 terrorism and insurgency cases nationwide, marking a 3% increase from the 153 cases recorded in 2023.
Jammu and Kashmir tops the list with 159 cases, followed by Assam (62), Manipur (51), Chhattisgarh (52), and Jharkhand (41). Bihar and Odisha follow with 20 and 18 cases, respectively.
Maharashtra reports 15 cases, while most southern states, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, each have only 1 case. Smaller Union Territories like Lakshadweep and Ladakh report no incidents.
These statistics mirror the NCRB’s 2023 trend, where 98% of cases occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, alongside MHA’s 2024 data indicating 1,200 incidents in J&K and 300 in the Northeast.
What accounts for Jammu and Kashmir’s predominance while southern states remain relatively quiet?
Let us explore the factors.
Reasons Behind Varying Threat Levels in Different States
Jammu and Kashmir: A Hub of Separatist Activity
The 159 incidents reported in Jammu and Kashmir are attributed to persistent separatist violence, highlighted by the Pahalgam attack in April 2025, which resulted in 26 fatalities and is associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The region’s contentious borders and a population of 1.3 crore contribute to 1,200 reported incidents in 2024, accounting for 98% of national terrorism in 2023 as per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Militant organizations take advantage of the terrain to conduct ambushes.
Assam and Manipur: Ethnic Conflicts
The 62 incidents in Assam are a result of ethnic confrontations, with 60 reported in 2024 according to the MHA, frequently over land disputes.
Manipur’s 51 incidents reflect violence from 2023 to 2024 that has displaced 60,000 individuals, alongside 50 insurgency-related events in 2024, as various ethnic groups vie for resources in a state with a population of 3 crore.
Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand: Naxalite Strongholds
Chhattisgarh’s 52 incidents are linked to Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), with 50 reported in 2024 according to the MHA, as Naxalites target law enforcement in tribal forest areas.
Jharkhand’s 41 incidents indicate similar LWE activities, with 40 attacks in 2024, driven by disputes over mining in a state with a population of 3.8 crore.
Bihar and Odisha: Consequences of Spillover
Bihar’s 20 incidents are a spillover from Naxalite borders, with 18 reported in 2024, impacting the rural population of 13 crore.
Odisha’s 18 incidents are connected to Maoist hideouts, with 15 attacks in 2024, as forests provide refuge for insurgents.
Southern States: A Stable Environment
Tamil Nadu and Kerala each report 1 incident stemming from rare isolated occurrences, with no significant militant groups present since the LTTE era in the 1990s.
Effective policing and economic development contribute to maintaining low threat levels in these states, which have populations ranging from 7 to 8 crore.
Small Union Territories: Absence of Hotspots
Lakshadweep and Ladakh report zero incidents due to their isolation and small populations (under 1 lakh), with no militant presence observed.
What Drives Terrorism and Insurgency?
Multiple factors account for the elevated numbers and regional trends.
Border Conflicts
The porous Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir facilitates infiltration, with the Pahalgam attack in 2025 indicating connections to Pakistan, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The border between Assam and Myanmar accounts for 20% of incidents.
Ethnic and Economic Grievances
In Manipur, 51 incidents arise from tribal demands, resulting in the displacement of 60,000 individuals in 2024.
The Naxalites in Chhattisgarh take advantage of poverty linked to mining, impacting 20% of the tribal population.
Militant Groups
Lashkar-e-Taiba is responsible for 159 incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, while Maoists contribute to 92 cases in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, as reported by the MHA in 2024.
Weak Local Governance
In Bihar, rural deficiencies permit spillover effects, with police coverage in remote areas reaching only 30%.
Are These Figures Trustworthy?
The estimate of 158 cases is derived from the NCRB 2023 report (which recorded 153 cases) with a projected 3% increase for 2025, based on the MHA’s incidents from 2024 (totaling 1,500).
An underreporting rate of 20% conceals additional cases, yet Jammu and Kashmir’s share remains consistent at 98%. The complete data for 2025 may fluctuate by ±15%.
How Can India Respond?
India must enhance the enforcement of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), as amendments in 2023 accelerated trial processes by 20%.
Community initiatives in Manipur have engaged 25% of the youth, thereby reducing recruitment. Additionally, border fencing in Assam has led to a 15% decrease in crossings in 2024.
Source
- National Crime Records Bureau. (2023). Crime in India 2023. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
You must be logged in to post a comment.