1) Explain how narco-terrorism has emerged as a serious threat across the country. Suggest suitable measures to counter narco-terrorism. (Answer in 150 words)
2) Describe the context and salient features of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. (Answer in 150 words)
3) 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)
4) Social media and encrypting messaging services pose a serious security challenge. What measures have been adopted at various levels to address the security implications of social media? Also suggest any other remedies to address the problem.
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2023
1)Winning of ‘Hearts and Minds’ in terrorism affected
areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss the measures
adopted by the Government in this respect as part of the conflict resolution in Jammu and
Kashmir. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
2)The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our
adversaries across the borders to ferry arms/ammunitions, drugs, etc, is a serious threat to the
internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat. (10 Marks, 150
Words)
3)What are the internal security challenges being faced
by India? Give out the role of Central Intelligence and Investigative Agencies tasked to counter
such threats. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
4)Give out the major sources of terror funding in India
and the efforts being made to curtail these sources. In the light of this, also discuss the aim
and objective of the No Money for Terror (NMFT) Conference recently held at New Delhi in
November 2022. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2022
1)Discuss the types of organised crime. Describe the
linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational
levels. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
2)What are the maritime security challenges in India?
Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime
security. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
3)What are the different elements of cyber security?
Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security examine the extent to which India has
successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy. (15 Marks, 250
Words)
4)Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue
manifesting violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and
suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2021
1)Keeping in view India’s internal security, analyse the
impact of cross-border cyber-attacks. Also, discuss defensive measures against these
sophisticated attacks. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
2)Analyse the multidimensional challenges posed by
external state and non-state actors, to the internal security of India. Also, discuss measures
required to be taken to combat these threats. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
3)Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its
causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also, suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate
the menace of terrorism. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2020
1)Discuss different types of cybercrimes and measures
required to be taken to fight the menace. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
2)For effective border area management, discuss the steps
required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage
favourable perception among locals. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
3)What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in
Eastern part of India? What strategy should Government of India, civil administration and
security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (15 Marks, 250
Words)
4)4. Analyse internal security threats and transborder
crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also
discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard. (15 Marks, 250
Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2019
1)Cross-Border movement of insurgents is only one of the
several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the
various challenges currently emanating across the IndiaMyanmar border. Also, discuss the steps
to counter the challenges.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
2)The banning of ‘Jammat-e-Islami’ in Jammu and Kashmir
brought into focus the role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations.
Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected
areas. Discuss measures to neutralize the
influence of OGWs.(10 Marks, 150 Words)
3)What is the CyberDome Project? Explain how it can be
useful in controlling internet crimes in India (10 Marks, 150 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2018
1)Data security has assumed significant importance in the
digitized world due to rising cyber crimes. The Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee Report
addresses issues related to data security. What, in your view, are the strengths and weaknesses
of the Report relating to protection of personal data in cyber space?
(15 Marks, 250 Words)
2)India’s proximity to the two of the world’s biggest
illicit opium growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages
between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and
human trafficking. What counter measures should be taken to prevent the same?(15 Marks, 250
Words)
3)The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed
as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description
of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
4)Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend,
but still affects many parts of the country.Briefly explain the Government of India’s approach
to counter the challenges posed by LWE.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2017
1)The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to
national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major
sources of terrorist funding?
(15 Marks, 250 Words)
2)Discuss the potential threats of Cyber attack and the
security framework to prevent it.(10 Marks, 150 Words)
3)The North-Eastern region of India has been infested
with insurgency for a very long time. Analyze the major reasons for the survival of armed
insurgency in this region.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
4)Mob violence is emerging as a serious law and order
problem in India. By giving suitable examples, analyze the causes and consequences of such
violence.(15 Marks, 250 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2016
1)Use of internet and social media by non-state actors
for subversive activities is a major security concern. How have these been misused in the recent
past? Suggest effective guidelines to curb the above threat.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
2)Border management is a complex task due to difficult
terrain and hostile relations with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for
effective border management.
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
3)The terms ‘Hot Pursuit’ and ‘Surgical Strikes’ are
often used in connection with armed action against terrorist attacks. Discuss the strategic
impact of such actions.
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
4)‘Terrorism is emerging as a competitive industry over
the last few decades.” Analyse the above statement.
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2015
1)Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted
in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous to the
internal security of our country?
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
2)The persisting drives of the Government for development
of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the
farmers who face multiple displacements. With Malkangiri and Naxalbari foci, discuss the
corrective strategies needed to win the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens
back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
3)Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the
country, India needs a “Digital Armed Forces” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the
National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective
implementation.
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
4)Discuss the advantages and security implications of
cloud hosting of servers vis-a-vis in-house machine-based hosting for government
businesses.(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
5)Human right activists constantly highlight the view
that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of
human rights abuses by the security forces. What sections of AFSPA are opposed by the activists?
Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by the Apex Court.(12.5
Marks, 200 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2014
1)In 2012, the longitudinal marking for high-risk areas
for piracy was moved from 65 degrees east to 78 degrees east in the Arabian Sea by the
International Maritime Organization. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security
concerns?
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
2)China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for
development of an economic corridor. What threat does this pose for India’s security? Critically
examine
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
3)“The diverse nature of India as a multi-religious and
multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which is seen in her
neighbourhood.” Discuss along with strategies to be adopted to counter this environment(12.5
Marks, 200 Words)
4)International civil aviation laws provide all countries
complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory. What do you
understand by ‘airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this
airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggest ways to contain the threat(12.5
Marks, 200 Words)
5)How does illegal transborder migration pose a threat to
India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bringing out the factors which give
impetus to such migration.
(12.5 Marks, 200 Words)
UPSC Mains Internal Security - 2013
1)Article 244 of the Indian Constitution relates to
administration of scheduled areas and tribal areas.Analyse the impact of non-implementation of
the provisions of the Fifth schedule on the growth of Left Wing extremism.(10 Marks, 200
Words)
2)How far are India’s internal security challenges linked
with border management particularly in view of the long porous borders with most countries of
South Asia and Myanmar?
(10 Marks, 200 Words)
3)Money laundering poses a serious security threat to a
country’s economic sovereignty. What is its significance for India and what steps are required
to be taken to control this menace?
(10 Marks, 200 Words)
4)What are social networking sites and what security
implications do these sites present?(10 Marks, 200 Words)
5)Cyber warfare is considered by some defense analysts to
be a larger threat than even Al Qaeda or terrorism. What do you understand by Cyber warfare?
Outline the cyber threats which India is vulnerable to and bring out the state of the country’s
preparedness to deal with the same.
(10 Marks, 200 Words)
