(a) Describe the constitution of United Nations Security Council's 'Counter-Terrorism Committee'. To what extent has this Committee been effective in countering terrorism across international borders? Critically analyze. (20 marks)

(b) What do you u

Question

(a) Describe the constitution of United Nations Security Council's 'Counter-Terrorism Committee'. To what extent has this Committee been effective in countering terrorism across international borders? Critically analyze. (20 marks)

(b) What do you understand by nuclear disarmament? Do you agree with the opinion that Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has been successful in achieving its objects? Critically examine. (15 marks)

(c) What is statelessness? A stateless person is often subjected to a number of human rights violation. What are the impediments that people face due to statelessness? Elaborate the human rights issues that are connected to statelessness. (15 marks)

UPSC Answer Check · Accepted Answer

Begin with a brief introduction linking the three sub-parts under the umbrella of contemporary challenges to international peace and security. For part (a), spend approximately 40% of your word budget (8-10 minutes) describing CTC's constitution under UNSC Resolution 1373 and critically analysing its effectiveness through successes (post-9/11 financial tracking) and limitations (lack of enforcement, politicisation). For part (b), allocate 30% (6-7 minutes) defining nuclear disarmament, examining CTBT's partial success (norm against testing, moratorium) versus failures (non-entry into force, DPRK tests, India's non-signatory status). For part (c), use remaining 30% defining statelessness under 1954 and 1961 Conventions, elaborating impediments (lack of documentation, education, employment) and human rights violations (arbitrary detention, Rohingya crisis). Conclude with integrated observations on how these three issues reflect broader tensions between sovereignty and collective security in international law.
- Part (a): CTC constitution under UNSC Resolution 1373 (2001), membership of all 15 UNSC members, CTC Executive Directorate (CTED) established 2004; critical analysis of effectiveness including FATF recommendations, 1267/1989/2253 ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions regime, limitations like lack of binding enforcement, selective application against certain states, failure to prevent Mumbai 2008 or Pulwama 2019 attacks
- Part (a): India's role as CTC Chair 2011-2012, push for Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), critique of double standards in defining terrorism
- Part (b): Nuclear disarmament defined as elimination of nuclear weapons vs. non-proliferation; CTBT's object to ban all nuclear explosions; success indicators (183 signatories, moratorium since 1998, International Monitoring System) versus failures (Annex II states non-ratification including India, Pakistan, DPRK, US non-ratification, 2017 DPRK tests)
- Part (b): India's position on CTBT (1996 rejection as discriminatory, 'no first use' doctrine, pursuit of minimum credible deterrence); comparison with NPT's discriminatory structure
- Part (c): Statelessness defined under 1954 Convention Relating to Status of Stateless Persons and 1961 Convention on Reduction of Statelessness; causes (state succession, discriminatory nationality laws, arbitrary deprivation, gaps in birth registration)
- Part (c): Impediments faced (lack of identity documents, restricted movement, no political rights, barred from education/employment/healthcare); human rights violations including arbitrary detention, trafficking, refoulement; Indian context of Chakma and Hajong, Rohingya crisis, 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act debates
- Part (c): UNHCR's #IBelong Campaign, Global Action Plan to End Statelessness 2014-2024, role of UN Human Rights Council and Special Rapporteur on minority issues

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Provision / section accuracy	20%	10	Precisely cites UNSC Resolution 1373 for CTC establishment, 1954/1961 Statelessness Conventions with correct articles; accurately describes CTBT Annex II ratification requirements and India's specific objections; mentions FATF, CTED, and Global Action Plan with correct institutional details	Generally identifies correct resolutions and conventions but misses specific articles or conflates CTC with 1267 Committee; vague on CTBT entry-into-force mechanism; mentions statelessness conventions without distinguishing 1954 from 1961	Incorrectly states CTC was established by UNGA resolution, confuses CTBT with NPT or INF Treaty, or fails to mention any specific treaty provisions for statelessness
Case-law citation	20%	10	References ICJ advisory opinions on Nuclear Weapons (1996) for disarmament obligations; cites Nottebohm case (1955) on genuine link doctrine in nationality law; mentions ICTY/ICTR jurisprudence on terrorism definitions; refers to Indian Supreme Court decisions on Chakma refugees (NHRC v. State of Arunachal Pradesh, 1996) or Puttaswamy (2017) on right to identity	Mentions ICJ Nuclear Weapons case without specific holding; general reference to human rights jurisprudence without case names; may cite UNHCR guidelines without judicial authority	No case law cited; or cites irrelevant domestic criminal cases; confuses international tribunals
Doctrinal analysis	20%	10	Critically engages with 'legislative' vs. 'executive' character of UNSC counter-terrorism measures; analyses tension between Article 2(7) non-intervention and Chapter VII collective security; evaluates erga omnes obligations on nuclear disarmament; applies R2P doctrine to statelessness crises; critiques 'with us or against us' binary in terrorism discourse	Descriptive treatment of doctrines without critical tension-spotting; mentions sovereignty but doesn't analyse UNSC overreach concerns; superficial treatment of human rights vs. security trade-offs	No doctrinal framework applied; purely factual description of institutions; confuses sources of international law
Comparative / constitutional angle	20%	10	Compares Indian constitutional protections for refugees/stateless (Articles 14, 21) with international standards; contrasts India's non-party status to CTBT with its civil nuclear deal exception; compares CTC with EU's counter-terrorism architecture; references Bangladesh's Citizenship Act 2009 for statelessness reduction; analyses CAA 2019's exclusionary potential	Mentions India's non-signatory status to CTBT without constitutional context; general reference to fundamental rights without specific articles; limited comparative scope	No Indian constitutional or comparative international perspective; ignores India's specific positions entirely
Conclusion & application	20%	10	Synthesises three sub-parts into coherent thesis on fragmentation of international law; proposes concrete reforms (binding CCIT, universal CTBT ratification, nationality guarantees in state succession); evaluates India's potential leadership in all three areas; acknowledges limitations of current frameworks while suggesting realistic pathways	Separate conclusions for each part without integration; generic call for 'strengthening international cooperation'; no specific reform proposals	No conclusion; or abrupt ending; or introduces entirely new points in conclusion; purely descriptive summary

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