While it is a common knowledge that the Union government has been primarily responsible for maintaining the security of the country, the state governments have also played an important role ensuring public order and security of the citizens. It is said that every conflict starts at the micro level, but if not addressed effectively at that level, it has the potential to blow up and manifest itself as a severe security threat for the entire country. In this respect, various affected state governments in India have attempted  to resolve conflicts and build peace at the ground level. While some of these attempts have been successful others have not accomplished the desired results. The book analyses the experiences of six selected states in their efforts to deal with insurgencies and establish sustainable peace. By doing so, it brings to the fore the important role played by state governments in tackling various internal security threats and maintaining peace and order in the country. The book argues in favour of the necessity to consider state governments as a prominent component in India’s conflict resolution  and peace building architecture.

Dr. Pushpita Das is Research Fellow and Coordinator of the Internal Security Centre at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. Her areas of interest include border security and management, coastal security, drug trafficking, migration and India’s Northeast. Dr. Das has written extensively on her areas of research including a book titled India`s Approach towards Border Management: From Barriers to Bridges (2021), monographs titled Illegal Migration from Bangladesh: Deportation, Fences, Work Permit (2016) and Coastal Security: the Indian Approach (2013); three occasional papers titled Status of India`s Border Trade (2014),Drug Trafficking in India (2012), Coastal Security along Gujarat and Maharashtra Coasts (2009); and a number  of articles and commentaries in journals and books. She has delivered lectures at a number of training institutes apart from participating in national and international seminars. Dr. Pushpita Das holds a Doctorate degree from the Jawaharlal Nehru University.