Q20 · UPSC Civil Services Mains 2015 · GS III · 12 marks · 4 min read

← Q19

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.

Topic: Cyber Security and Money Laundering. Syllabus: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention. Same official PYQ from year-wise 2015 and Cyber Security and Money Laundering.

Revision summary

NCSP 2013 sought a secure IT environment, 24×7 response, CERT and critical-infrastructure protection, skills, and public–private sharing. Those aims match the threat; a policy paper did not automatically fund staff, a chain of command, or modern law. Private owners of power and finance still need mandatory standards, not only partnership language. A Digital Armed Forces idea is valid as a trained defence and CI cadre with a fusion centre, not as militarising all cyber crime. Implementation needs statute, a career service, supply-chain rules, and drills.

Model answer

Flow diagram

flowchart TD
  TH[Cyberspace threats] --> POL[NCSP 2013]
  POL --> CERT[CERT-In NCIIPC skills PPP]
  GAP[Law command workforce supply chain] --> POL
  DAF[Digital cadre fusion] --> DEF[Defence CI]
  DAF --> CIV[CERT police crime]
  DEF --> OUT[Resilient cyberspace]
  CIV --> OUT

Conclusion

  • Update the 2013 policy with binding sectoral regulations, breach-notification, and supply-chain rules.
  • Build the missing career cyber service and national range for live-fire drills.
  • Clarify encryption and agency lanes so firms are not complying with five contradictory letters.
  • Keep citizen security and privacy in the same design, or a Digital Armed Force will lose the public it claims to protect.

The National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 correctly named CERT, critical infrastructure, skills, and public–private work. It did not by itself create law, a commander, or a retained workforce, so implementation is the real gap. India needs professional digital forces for defence and critical systems, not a slogan that turns every cyber crime into a military parade. The 2013 map still holds if it is given statute, staff, and drills.

Quick related

Students also ask

  • Did the 2013 policy create a cyber army?

    No. It was a civilian-led policy map. Defence cyber units and a stronger CERT path still had to be built in institutions and budgets.

  • Is a Digital Armed Force the same as better antivirus?

    No. It means people, command, and practice against crime and state actors. Tools without a cadre and a law will not hold a grid or a bank.

PYQ trend

When UPSC asked this

Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.

  1. 2021 · Q9 · GS III · 10 marks

    Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels.

    View answer →

  2. 2021 · Q10 · GS III · 10 marks

    Keeping in view India's internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border cyber attacks. Also discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks.

    View answer →

  3. 2020 · Q9 · GS III · 10 marks

    Discuss different types of cybercrimes and measures required to be taken to fight the menace.

    View answer →

  4. 2019 · Q10 · GS III · 10 marks

    What is CyberDome Project? Explain how it can be useful in controlling internet crimes in India.

    View answer →

  5. 2018 · Q19 · GS III · 15 marks

    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? (250 Words, 15 Marks).

    View answer →

  6. 2018 · Q20 · GS III · 15 marks

    India's proximity to 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 countermeasures should be taken to prevent the same? (250 Words, 15 Marks).

    View answer →

  7. 2017 · Q9 · GS III · 10 marks

    Discuss the potential threats of Cyber attack and the security framework to prevent it.

    View answer →

  8. 2015 · Q18 · GS III · 12 marks

    Religious indoctrination via social 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.

    View answer →

More from this paper

Q1 · UPSC Mains 2015 · GS III · 12 marks

The nature of economic growth in India in recent times is often described as a jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.

Indian Economy

Jobless growth means GDP rises much faster than decent employment. NSSO-era data showed weak employment elasticity in the 2000s despite high output growth. Organised manufacturing stayed thin; services and capital-intensive industry added value with few regular jobs. Construction and informal work absorbed some labour, so the claim is about quality more than a literal zero. A job-rich path needs labour-intensive factories, skills and easier formal hiring.

Q2 · UPSC Mains 2015 · GS III · 12 marks

Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non- farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India.

Indian Economy

Livestock gives year-round cash, especially to small and land-poor rural households. Dairy cooperatives and NDDB already proved a scalable non-farm income model. National Livestock Mission, Rashtriya Gokul Mission and the National Dairy Plan are the present Union tools. Feed, vaccination, insurance and milk-meat markets decide whether animals actually raise income. Women and landless workers gain most from backyard poultry, goats and dairy if extension reaches them.

Q3 · UPSC Mains 2015 · GS III · 12 marks

In the view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture non - viable for a majority of farmers should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? critically evaluate the pros and cons.

Crops, Irrigation and Marketing

Average holdings near 1.15 hectares make many farms too small to cover cost and risk. Contract farming can bring price, seed and offtake, as the Model APMC Act 2003 envisaged. Unequal bargaining, quality rejection and monoculture are the main contract risks. Legal leasing can assemble scale and open credit while the owner keeps title; informal tenancy already exists. Both tools need written terms, FPOs and clean records, not a free hand for sponsors.

Toppers' copies

Toppers' copies for this question will be uploaded soon.