Revision summary
Terrorism is political violence meant to frighten civilians and coerce a state. India has faced it in Kashmir, in city bombings such as 26/11, in small hinterland modules, and online. Some Northeast and Khalistani violence uses the same methods. Counters include UAPA and the NIA, intelligence fusion, NSG, border and coastal security, and terror-finance rules. Politics and deradicalisation lag force; rights costs of broad laws remain a live issue.
Model answer
Introduction
Terrorism is the deliberate use of fear against civilians to bend a politics. It is a global scourge because the same methods — bomb, gun, propaganda — travel, even when the cause is local. India has met it as cross-border jihad, as insurgent bombs, and as lone modules on a phone. The State’s reply has been force, law, and, unevenly, politics.
Body
How it has shown itself in India
Jammu and Kashmir has been the longest wound: militant groups, some with Pakistan-based backing, targeting security forces and civilians, with Pahalgam 2025-type shocks still in living memory as a reminder that a quieter map is not a finished peace. The 2008 Mumbai attacks remain the textbook of urban, sea-borne terror. Hinterland modules (Indian Mujahideen and later small cells) hit cities with IEDs. Khalistani violence has a diaspora shadow. The Northeast has mixed insurgency and terror tactics; some groups have talked, some still extort. Maoist violence is often classed as LWE (the next question), but the civilian massacre is a terror method. Online radicalisation now recruits without a training camp.
Contemporary examples change by the year; the pattern is asymmetric violence plus a camera.
Counter-measures
- Law: UAPA, NIA, amendments after Mumbai, and State laws. Intelligence: Multi-Agency Centre, NATGRID-type data, state ATS. Force: NSG, CAPFs, theatre commands in slow motion. Money: FATF-driven terror-finance rules, NIA probes. Borders: fencing, riverine and maritime police after 26/11. Politics: talks, development packages, and, in Kashmir, a changed constitutional status whose security effect is still argued. Community: deradicalisation is weaker than it should be.
Effectiveness is mixed. Capacity is far above 2001. Rights can be bruised by a broad UAPA net. A scourge is managed, not magically ended, while sanctuaries and phones remain.
Flow diagram
flowchart TD G[Global method] --> IN[India] IN --> JK[J and K cross-border] IN --> C[City modules] IN --> O[Online] ST[NIA UAPA intel NSG FATF] --> IN
Conclusion
Terrorism in India has been cross-border, urban-modular, and insurgent. The State has built law, intelligence, force and finance tools since Mumbai. Those tools reduce space. They do not delete ideology or a hostile sanctuary by themselves.
Quick related
Students also ask
-
The Government of India recently stated that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) will be eliminated by 2026. What do you understand by LWE and how are the people affected by it? What measures have been taken by the government to eliminate LWE?
Next question in the 2025 paper (Q10). View answer →
-
Is every insurgency terrorism?
Insurgency can target the state. Terrorism as a method is the choice to kill civilians for effect. The overlap is real; the words are not identical.
-
Can a democracy end terrorism only with talks?
Talks matter for political causes. They do not replace intelligence against a cell that wants a camera, not a table.
PYQ trend
When UPSC asked this
Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.
-
2024 · Q9 · GS III · 10 marks
Explain how narco-terrorism has emerged as a serious threat across the country. Suggest suitable measures to counter narco-terrorism. -
2024 · Q19 · GS III · 15 marks
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 andManagement (BIM) Scheme. -
2023 · Q9 · GS III · 10 marks
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. -
2023 · Q10 · GS III · 10 marks
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. -
2022 · Q9 · GS III · 10 marks
Discuss the types of organised crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels. -
2021 · Q20 · GS III · 15 marks
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. -
2020 · Q10 · GS III · 10 marks
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. -
2020 · Q20 · GS III · 15 marks
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.
More from this paper
Q1 · UPSC Mains 2025 · GS III · 10 marks
Distinguish between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) with special reference to India. Why is the IHDI considered a better indicator of inclusive growth?
Inclusive Growth
HDI combines life expectancy, education and GNI per capita into one average. India’s recent HDI is in the medium band, around 0.64, with a rank still in the 130s. IHDI reduces that score for inequality; India has often lost about thirty per cent of HDI to uneven shares. Inclusive growth needs the extra income and services to reach the bottom, which HDI alone can hide. IHDI is therefore the better national test, alongside the multidimensional poverty index.
Q2 · UPSC Mains 2025 · GS III · 10 marks
What are the challenges before the Indian economy when the world is moving away from free trade and multilateralism to protectionism and bilateralism? How can these challenges be met?
Indian Economy
The world is shifting from a single WTO bargain toward tariffs, subsidies, friend-shoring and carbon border taxes. India’s risks are weaker Western demand, costly Chinese intermediates, technology denial and rupee shocks. Goods exports in textiles, engineering and chemicals are exposed. Responses include wider FTAs, PLI with quality, destination diversification, forex buffers and a defence of WTO rules. A large domestic market is India’s shock absorber, not a reason to close the border entirely.
Q3 · UPSC Mains 2025 · GS III · 10 marks
Explain the factors influencing the decision of the farmers on the selection of high value crops in India.
Crops, Irrigation and Marketing
High-value crops are horticulture, spices, flowers and similar bets that can earn more than grain. Farmers weigh expected price and a real buyer against water, labour, credit and the chance of a price crash. MSP rice and wheat remain the safer default where they exist. Horticulture tonnage in India has already overtaken foodgrain, which shows the shift is underway. Policy must cut risk with storage, processing and insurance, not only cheer diversification.
Toppers' copies
Toppers' copies for this question will be uploaded soon.