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General Studies 2024 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Examine

GS Paper III — Q19

India has a long and troubled border with China and Pakistan fraught with contentious issues. Examine the conflicting issues and…

India has a long and troubled border with China and Pakistan fraught with contentious issues. Examine the conflicting issues and security challenges along the border. Also give out the development being undertaken in these areas under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

भारत की चीन एवं पाकिस्तान के साथ एक दीर्घकालिक अशांत सीमा है जिसमें अनेक विवादास्पद मुद्दे हैं। सीमा के साथ परस्पर-विरोधी मुद्दों तथा सुरक्षा-चुनौतियों का परीक्षण कीजिए। सीमा क्षेत्र विकास कार्यक्रम (बी० ए० डी० पी०) तथा सीमा अवसंरचना और प्रबंधन (बी० आई० ए०) योजना के अंतर्गत इन क्षेत्रों में किए जाने वाले विकास-कार्यों को भी उल्लिखित कीजिए। (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए)

Q19 of the 2024 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper III, as printed
The question as printed in the 2024 General Studies paper
Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2024 General Studies questions

Model answer

Written 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.

India’s contested borders with China (3,488 km) and Pakistan (3,323 km) present multifaceted sovereignty and security challenges requiring continuous strategic calibration.

Conflicting Issues and Security Challenges Along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, friction stems from an undelineated boundary, notably regarding Aksai Chin and the McMahon Line. Flashpoints such as Galwan, Pangong Tso, and Depsang illustrate recurrent transgressions. China’s infrastructure asymmetry—marked by dual-use civil-military Xiaokang border villages, high-speed rail, and airbases—threatens India’s operational readiness.

Across the western front, Pakistan sustains cross-border proxy warfare. Challenges include Line of Control (LoC) ceasefire violations, state-sponsored terrorism (seen in Pathankot, Uri, and Pulwama), subterranean infiltration tunnels, fencing gaps in riverine terrain, and an emerging drone-driven narco-terrorism nexus.

Developmental and Infrastructure Interventions To counter these vulnerabilities, India has aligned socio-economic consolidation with hardened physical infrastructure:

Border Area Development Programme (BADP): Implemented across 111 border districts, BADP delivers socio-economic infrastructure including education, healthcare, local roads, mobile connectivity, and skill development. It incorporates a 10% fund flexibility for immediate security-linked village needs, aiming to stem outward migration from strategic frontiers.

Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme: With a central allocation of ₹4,800 crore (2021–26), BIM focuses on operational capability. It funds all-weather strategic roads, bridges, helipads, and Border Outposts (BOPs) in high-altitude zones like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. It also deploys technological enablers, including the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) and Long-Range Reconnaissance and Observation Systems (LORROS).

Socio-economic development acts as a critical force multiplier. By transforming local populations into the primary "eyes and ears" of security forces and closing tactical mobility gaps, BADP and BIM reinforce India's comprehensive border deterrence posture.

What "Examine" is asking you to do

Test the proposition the question puts to you and return a finding on how far it holds. Examine stems carry a claim, or ask whether something has happened, and expect evidence weighed both ways before the extent is stated — often with remedial measures attached.

Structure that answers it

Restate the claim as the question frames it → evidence that supports it → evidence that undercuts it → the conditions under which it holds → verdict on how far it stands

Where marks are lost

Stopping at description. An examination has to reach a finding, and “examine with justification” means the extent must be stated, not implied.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: Security: classify threat, vulnerability, response; stay calm. examine: intro > how/why with reasoning > evidence > conclusion Full marks: Precise analysis of China/Pak issues with specific BADP/BIM details.

Key points expected

  • China border issues (LAC, Aksai Chin, Galwan)
  • Pakistan border issues (Line of Control, terrorism)
  • BADP scheme objectives and scope
  • BIM scheme infrastructure focus

Evaluation rubric

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

  1. The answer Analyze border conflicts/challenges and detail BADP/BIM development measures. 15 marks · 250 words

    examine— intro → how/why with reasoning → evidence → conclusion

    Must cover

    • China border issues (LAC, Aksai Chin, Galwan)
    • Pakistan border issues (Line of Control, terrorism)
    • BADP scheme objectives and scope
    • BIM scheme infrastructure focus

    Loses marks

    • Dramatic or emotional security writing
    • Vague generalities without naming specific schemes
    • Ignoring the developmental aspect of the question

    Earns more

    • Specific security challenges (infiltration, smuggling)
    • Linkage between development and security
    • Mention of specific border states
    • Balanced view of diplomatic vs military response

    Extra mark

    • Specific budget allocation for BADP/BIM
    • Reference to specific infrastructure projects (e.g., border roads)

Practice this exact question

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