General Studies 2025 GS Paper III 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Elaborate

Q9

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

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)

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Directive word: Elaborate

This question asks you to elaborate. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'elaborate' demands detailed expansion on both manifestations and counter-measures with contemporary illustrations. Structure: brief introduction defining terrorism's global-local nexus → body paragraph on Indian manifestations (Left-wing, J&K, Northeast, Islamist) with 2-3 recent examples → body paragraph on counter-measures (legislative, institutional, operational, technological) → concise conclusion on challenges remaining.

Key points expected

Manifestations: Left-wing extremism (Maoist corridor), J&K terrorism (Pak-sponsored), Northeast insurgencies, radicalization via social media, lone-wolf attacks
Contemporary examples: 2019 Pulwama attack, 2021 Nagaland Oting incident context, recent Maoist attacks in Chhattisgarh (2023-24), Udaipur/Rajkot radicalization cases
Legislative measures: UAPA amendments, NIA Act, PMLA, repeal of POTA but continued preventive detention
Institutional/operational: NIA, NATGRID, CCTNS, Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), surgical strikes (2016, 2019), Operation All-Out in J&K
Technological/soft measures: de-radicalization programmes, cyber surveillance, border fencing with Pakistan/Bangladesh, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliance
Critical gap: mention of challenges like drone threats, crypto-financing, or need for NCTC/remaining legislative gaps adds analytical value

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	2	Answer treats 'elaborate' seriously—provides detailed expansion on BOTH manifestations AND counter-measures with explicit contemporary illustrations; does not conflate with 'discuss' or merely list points	Covers both parts but treats one superficially; or provides examples without elaborating the nature of manifestation; directive partially misunderstood	Misses one part entirely (only manifestations OR only counter-measures); or ignores 'contemporary examples' requirement; treats as simple 'describe'
Content depth & accuracy	20%	2	Accurately identifies 3-4 distinct manifestation types with correct regional mapping; counter-measures span legislative, institutional, operational and preventive dimensions; no factual errors on UAPA/NIA/surgical strikes	Identifies 2 manifestation types and 2 counter-measure categories; minor inaccuracies (e.g., conflating NIA with state police) or outdated examples (pre-2015)	Vague references to 'naxalism' and 'army action' without specificity; major errors (e.g., claiming POTA still operational); confuses counter-terrorism with counter-insurgency
Structure & flow	20%	2	Tight 150-word discipline with clear demarcation: manifestations → examples → counter-measures; logical progression without repetition; effective use of limited space	Both parts present but uneven weightage (e.g., 100 words on manifestations, 50 on counter-measures); or examples scattered rather than integrated; minor structural redundancy	No clear paragraph breaks; rambling structure; exceeds word limit significantly or underwrites; manifestations and counter-measures intermixed confusingly
Examples / case-law / data	20%	2	2-3 specific contemporary examples (2020-2024): Pulwama/Uri context, recent Maoist ambushes, Udaipur beheading, drone incidents in J&K, or FATF grey-listing impact; examples directly illustrate manifestation type	One specific recent example plus generic references ('26/11', 'Mumbai attacks'); or examples correct but not contemporary (pre-2019); examples not clearly tied to manifestation	No examples or only vague 'many attacks happened'; fictional/incorrect examples; examples from other countries (9/11, ISIS Syria) without Indian relevance
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	2	Brief but sharp conclusion identifying persistent challenge (drone warfare, crypto-financing, radicalization in prisons) or suggesting integrated approach; demonstrates awareness that counter-terrorism requires balancing security-civil liberties	Generic conclusion ('terrorism must be eliminated'); or no conclusion; merely summarizes points already made without forward-looking or critical element	No conclusion; or contradictory conclusion suggesting military solution alone; or irrelevant global platitudes unrelated to Indian context

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