GS Paper III — Q19
Separatist movements have been one of the major factors contributing to militancy and instability in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Bring…
Separatist movements have been one of the major factors contributing to militancy and instability in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Bring out actions taken by the Government to bring J&K into national mainstream. Discuss pre and post abrogation status of Articles 370 and 35A. Also bring out positive impacts of abrogation of both articles in mainstreaming the state. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
जम्मू व कश्मीर (जे एण्ड के) में उग्रवाद और अस्थिरता के प्रमुख कारणों में से एक अलगाववादी आंदोलन भी रहे हैं। जम्मू-कश्मीर को राष्ट्रीय मुख्यधारा में लाने के लिए सरकार द्वारा की गई कार्यवाही को स्पष्ट कीजिए। अनुच्छेद 370 और 35 ए को निरस्त करने से पहले और बाद की स्थिति पर चर्चा कीजिए। साथ ही, राज्य को राष्ट्रीय मुख्यधारा में लाने में इन दोनों अनुच्छेदों को निरस्त करने के सकारात्मक प्रभावों को भी स्पष्ट कीजिए। (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में 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.
Separatist militancy in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has been sustained by a Pakistan-backed proxy war, radicalisation and local alienation, destabilising the region for decades.
Government Actions for Mainstreaming The Government combined firm security with political outreach. 'Operation All Out' targeted terror networks, the NIA acted against terror financing, and Jamaat-e-Islami (J&K) and JKLF were banned under the UAPA in 2019, alongside surrender-cum-rehabilitation policies for local youth. Grassroots democracy was revived through the 2020 District Development Council elections, followed by the 2024 Assembly elections that restored an elected government in the Union Territory.
Pre versus Post-Abrogation Status Before 5 August 2019, Article 370 gave J&K special status with its own constitution, and Parliament could legislate only on agreed subjects. Article 35A (1954 Presidential Order) let the state define 'permanent residents' and reserve property, jobs and settlement rights for them.
Presidential Orders C.O. 272 and 273 of 2019 applied the whole Constitution and made Article 370's special provisions inoperative, which also ended Article 35A; the Supreme Court upheld this in December 2023. The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 created the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh and extended central laws such as the RTI and RTE Acts.
Positive Impacts of Abrogation Stone-pelting and separatist-called shutdowns fell sharply. West Pakistan refugees, Valmikis and Gorkhas gained domicile rights, and Paharis received ST status (2024). A ₹28,400 crore industrial scheme and record tourist arrivals have spurred investment and jobs.
Attacks such as Pahalgam (2025) and the pending statehood demand show that consolidating security and democratic gains remains essential.
How this answer will be evaluated
Framework: GS3 Security/Polity: Situation > Analysis > Measures > Assessment
What earns full marks: Precise legal definitions, specific government actions, and clear positive impacts with examples.
Evaluation rubric
Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.
- The answer Bring out the Government's actions to mainstream J&K, discuss the status of Articles 370 and 35A before and after abrogation, and bring out the positive impacts of abrogation. 15 marks · 250 words
discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close
Must cover
- State the pre-abrogation status of Article 370 (special status, own constitution, limited Parliament jurisdiction)
- State the pre-abrogation status of Article 35A (permanent residents and their exclusive rights) and its post-2019 status
- List specific government actions for mainstreaming (security operations, UAPA bans, DDC and Assembly elections, rehabilitation)
- Explain positive impacts of abrogation (security, rights of excluded groups, investment, tourism)
Loses marks
- Focusing only on separatism without addressing government actions
- Ignoring the specific legal status of Article 35A
- Vague generalities without specific examples of mainstreaming
Earns more
- Mention the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the UT structure
- Reference specific developmental schemes (e.g., New Central Sector Scheme for industrial development)
- Mention groups newly covered (West Pakistan refugees, Valmikis, Gorkhas; Pahari ST status)
- Balanced close noting continuing challenges (terror attacks, statehood demand)
Extra mark
- Mention specific economic data (e.g., FDI inflow post-2019)
- Reference specific legal instruments (e.g., C.O. 272/273 of 2019, In re Article 370 judgment, 2023)
What "Highlight" is asking you to do
Bring the notable features of the named material forward and make their weight visible — what each feature is, and what gives it importance. Highlight expects substantive coverage of the features, not a thin selection from them.
Structure that answers it
The material and what makes a feature notable within it → feature, with the point that gives it weight → the same for each further feature → the composite picture they form
Where marks are lost
Naming features flatly as a list and never showing why any one of them signifies.
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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