Winning of 'Hearts and Minds' in terrorism-affected areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss…

Winning of 'Hearts and Minds' in terrorism-affected areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss the measures adopted by the Government in this respect as part of the conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

आतंकवाद-प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में जनसमुदाय का विश्वास बहाल करने में 'दिल और दिमाग' जीतना एक आवश्यक कदम है। इस संबंध में जम्मू और कश्मीर में संघर्ष समाधान के भाग के रूप में सरकार द्वारा अपनाए गए उपायों पर चर्चा कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

The question as printed in the 2023 General Studies paper

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Model answer

Drafted with AI by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-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.

Winning ‘hearts and minds’ is central to conflict resolution by severing the support base of terrorism. The Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged strategy in Jammu and Kashmir:

Democratic Decentralisation: Deepening grassroots democracy through Panchayat (2018–2020) and District Development Council (2020) elections, alongside a delimitation exercise granting legislative reservation to Scheduled Tribes. The 2024 Assembly elections, the first in a decade, recorded high turnout.

Socio-Economic Development: Executing the ₹80,068-crore Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) to augment road connectivity, power infrastructure, and tourism. Post-2019 structural changes—following the abrogation of Article 370 and transition to Union Territory status—introduced updated domicile rules and targeted industrial investment policies.

Youth and Security Outreach: Channeling youth aspirations through the Udaan skilling initiative, digital empowerment, and Khelo India sports programs. Simultaneously, the Indian Army’s Operation Sadbhavana provides civic action, healthcare, and schooling, reinforced by a surrender and rehabilitation policy for former militants.

Way Forward: Sustaining transparent governance, local employment generation, and continuous political dialogue will firmly anchor institutional trust and long-term peace.

How this answer will be evaluated

Framework: Security: classify threat, vulnerability, response; stay calm

What earns full marks: Analytical discussion of 3+ dimensions with specific measures and balanced assessment

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

The answer Intro > 3-4 dimensions of 'Hearts and Minds' measures > example > balanced close 10 marks · 150 words

discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close
Must cover
- Political and constitutional measures (e.g., dialogue, local body elections, the 2019 reorganisation)
- Developmental measures: PM Development Package 2015, infrastructure, employment schemes (Himayat, Udaan)
- Army and security measures: Operation Sadbhavana, counter-insurgency, surrender and rehabilitation policy
- Balanced assessment of impact on trust/conflict resolution
Loses marks
- Dramatic security writing without analysis
- Newspaper summary of events without measures
- Aspirational solutions not implementable
Earns more
- Mention specific schemes (e.g., Himayat, Udaan, Back to Village)
- References specific institutional changes (e.g., J&K Reorganisation Act)
- Links measures to specific 'Hearts and Minds' outcomes
- Balanced view of challenges/limitations
Extra mark
- One current scheme with a specific number/statistic
- Simple flowchart of conflict resolution approach

What "Discuss" is asking you to do

Lay the issue out from more than one side — how it arose, what is claimed for it, what is held against it, and where it now stands. UPSC attaches discuss to broad topics with several live dimensions, so coverage of the dimensions earns more than the strength of your opinion.

Structure that answers it

Set the issue up → the case as it is made → the case against → the dimension both sides leave out → where the balance now lies

Where marks are lost

Listing facts with no thread between them, or arguing one side throughout and calling it a discussion.

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