Terrorism is a global scourge. How has it manifested in India ? Elaborate with contemporary examples. What are the counter…

Terrorism is a global scourge. How has it manifested in India ? Elaborate with contemporary examples. What are the counter measures adopted by the State ? Explain. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

आतंकवाद एक वैश्विक महाविपत्ति है। यह भारत में किस रूप में प्रकट हुआ है ? समसामयिक उदाहरणों से व्याख्या कीजिए। राज्य द्वारा कौन-से जवाबी उपाय अपनाए गए हैं ? समझाइए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

The question as printed in the 2025 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.

Terrorism in India manifests across multiple distinct theatres:

Manifestations and Contemporary Examples

Cross-Border Terrorism: Pakistan-sponsored proxy warfare in Jammu & Kashmir, exemplified by the 2019 Pulwama attack and the 2025 Pahalgam attack.
Left-Wing Extremism (LWE): Insurgency across the Red Corridor, marked by lethal IED ambushes in Chhattisgarh (2023–24).
Northeast Insurgencies: Residual insurgent groups and ethnic violence, as seen in Manipur since 2023.
Transnational Radicalization: Online propaganda driving lone-wolf terror attacks, seen in the Udaipur radicalization case.

State Counter-Measures

Legislative: Amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) allowing individual terrorist designation, strengthening the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, and stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) enforcement.
Institutional and Operational: Intelligence integration via the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), NATGRID, and CCTNS; operational deterrence through Operation All-Out and cross-border surgical/air strikes (2016, 2019) and Operation Sindoor (2025).
Technological and Soft Power: Smart border fencing, cyber-surveillance, de-radicalization initiatives, and global compliance with FATF standards to choke terror financing.

Addressing emerging threats like weaponized drones, crypto-financing, and operationalizing the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) are vital to consolidating internal security.

How this answer will be evaluated

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

What earns full marks: Balanced analysis of threat and response with specific legal/institutional examples.

Evaluation rubric

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

The answer Explain how terrorism has manifested in India with contemporary examples, and the State's counter-measures. 10 marks · 150 words

explain— definition/context → points in order → small example → short close
Must cover
- Forms of terrorism in India (cross-border, LWE, North-East insurgency, radicalisation and lone actors)
- Contemporary examples (e.g., Pulwama 2019, Pahalgam 2025)
- Legal counter-measures (UAPA amendments 2019, NIA Act amendments, PMLA; BNS Section 113 on terrorist acts)
- Institutional and operational measures (NIA, MAC, NATGRID, surgical strikes, Operation Sindoor 2025)
Loses marks
- Dramatic or emotional writing
- Newspaper summary without analysis
- Unimplementable solutions
Earns more
- Agencies (NIA, IB, NSG) and state ATS units
- Border management and technology (smart fencing, anti-drone systems)
- Terror financing: FATF compliance, NIA terror-funding cell
- De-radicalisation and community policing
Extra mark
- A specific committee or report (e.g., Kargil Review Committee, 2nd ARC 8th Report on terrorism)
- Pending reform: NCTC

What "Elaborate" is asking you to do

Give the full detailed account the question has compressed into a line — every dimension of it, with specifics. Elaborate rewards completeness and detail rather than clarification or argument: the examiner is checking whether you can fill out a topic without being told what its parts are.

Structure that answers it

State the proposition → first dimension in detail → second dimension in detail → the part the statement leaves implicit → the consolidated picture

Where marks are lost

Repeating the statement at greater length instead of adding substance. Elaborate also punishes narrowness: omitting a whole dimension costs more here than anywhere else in this family.

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