GS Paper III — Q20
Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be…
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. (Answer in 250 words)
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
आतंकवाद की जटिलता और तीव्रता, इसके कारणों, सम्बन्धों तथा अप्रिय गठजोड़ का विश्लेषण कीजिए । आतंकवाद के खतरे के उन्मूलन के लिए उठाए जाने वाले उपायों का भी सुझाव दीजिए । (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)
Model answer
Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 250-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key. How we build rubrics and answers.
(a) Complexity and intensity: Terrorism has moved from hierarchical groups to decentralised lone actors, cyber-terrorism and state-sponsored proxy warfare. Its intensity shows in high casualties, wider geographic spread and psychological warfare. India faces cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, Northeast insurgencies, and Left-Wing Extremism, which the government declared ended in March 2026.
(b) Causes: Political grievances and secessionism, economic underdevelopment and unemployment, socio-religious radicalisation and online recruitment, and ideological diffusion from groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
(c) Linkages and the obnoxious nexus: Terror groups fund themselves through narcotics, illicit arms, human trafficking and counterfeit currency, and gain logistics and safe havens from state sponsors.
(d) Measures:
- Legal and institutional: Strengthen the NIA, integrate intelligence through NATGRID, and use the amended Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against terror financing.
- Developmental: Address alienation through development, employment and civic action, as in the SAMADHAN framework used against Maoist violence.
- Technological and global: Use AI for dark-web monitoring and financial pattern detection. Press for FATF compliance, UNSC 1267 sanctions against designated terrorists, intelligence sharing through BIMSTEC, and the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
How this answer will be evaluated
Framework: Security: classify threat, vulnerability, response; stay calm
What earns full marks: Analyzes complexity/nexus deeply; measures are specific and implementable.
Evaluation rubric
Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.
- The answer Deconstruct the multi-dimensional nature of terrorism and propose a comprehensive eradication strategy. 15 marks · 250 words
analyse— intro → causes → effects → stakeholders/linkages → way forward
Must cover
- Define complexity/intensity (e.g., non-state actors, WMDs, cyber)
- Identify causes (ideological, economic, political grievances)
- Explain obnoxious nexus (narcotics, arms, cybercrime, state sponsorship)
- Suggest implementable measures (legal, institutional, developmental)
Loses marks
- Dramatic or emotional security writing
- Vague, aspirational solutions without implementation details
- Ignoring the 'nexus' aspect of the question
Earns more
- Mention specific international instruments (e.g., UNSC 1267 regime, CCIT)
- Reference specific Indian laws (e.g., UAPA, NIA Act)
- Discuss soft power/diplomatic measures
- Link terrorism to organized crime
Extra mark
- Cite a specific recent incident or data point
- Mention a specific committee report (e.g., 2nd ARC 8th report, Combating Terrorism)
What "Analyse" is asking you to do
Break the subject into its working parts and show how they act on each other. The marks are in the interconnections — which factor drives which, and what the resulting structure explains — not in the inventory of factors.
Structure that answers it
Define the whole → separate it into its parts → show which part drives which → what that interaction produces → what the structure implies
Where marks are lost
A flat list of causes with no account of which drives which. An answer of neatly separated headings, each self-contained, scores as description.
Practice this exact question
Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.
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