Naxalite or Naxalism is an informal name given to revolutionary communist groups that are born out of the Sino-Soviet split in the Indian communist movement.

Ideologically they belong to various trends of Maoism.

Initially the movement has its epicenter in West Bengal.

In recent years, they have spread into less developed areas of rural central and eastern India, such as Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh through the activities of underground groups like the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

The CPI (Maoist) and some other Naxal factions are considered terrorists by the Government of India and various state governments in India.