GS Paper - III Model Answers (2020) - 1 | UPSC Mains Answer Writing: Practice PDF Download

Q1: Explain intra-generational and inter-generational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable development. (UPSC MAINS GS3 2020)
Ans: Intergenerational and intragenerational issues of equity: Inclusive growth focuses on ecological friendly economic growth which is a necessary and crucial condition for poverty reduction and sustainable development.
The intergenerational issues relate to, involve, and affect several generations because of which intergenerational equity is the basis of the concept of sustainability, whereas an intrinsic constituent of sustainable development is intragenerational equity, as it includes the role of virtue ethics and attitudes of people in changing lifestyles and behaviors across the existing generation or generations affecting fairness and impartiality.
Intergenerational and intragenerational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable development.

• The concept of intergenerational equity and intra-generational equity deals with using of the earth’s resources for the present generation and the future generation, and its impact upon the state of the earth. These equitable principles are based upon the concept of sustainable development, it means using of earth’s resources in such a manner that it can meet the present needs as well as the future needs of the living creatures. 
• Intergenerational equity signifies the rights and interests of the present and future generation regarding the renewable and non-renewable resources of the earth. Whereas, intragenerational equity deals with the equality among the same generations as far as the utilization of resources is a concern. It includes fair utilization of global resources among the human beings of the present generation.

These two concepts are considered to be the main strength of the doctrine sustainability to maintain proper balance in the use of natural resources.

• For example, Poverty and environmental degradation are mutually reinforcing; poor people live in the most polluted or degraded environments, and this contributes to their poverty. Although poverty and environmental degradation are important in their own right, they also can cause or contribute to wars, starvation, ethnic tensions, and terrorism, which are more likely to get headlines than their underlying cause. 
• Thus the concept of inclusive growth and sustainable development can take care of poverty as well as the environment without creating trouble for future generations. 
• Further, the Concerns about intergenerational equity quite naturally depend upon perceptions about prospects. In a growing economy, the fair treatment of future generations seems to be a less critical issue precisely because the future will do better than the present. 
• The depletion of reserves of nonrenewable resources and the deterioration of environmental quality have contributed to a growing perception that the historical trend of a steady improvement in human welfare is being reversed.

Q2: Define potential GDP and its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP? (UPSC MAINS GS3 2020)
Ans: India has a potential GDP growth rate of 6-7 per cent. The long-term growth prospective or potential for India is one of the highest in the Asia Pacific region. Concept of potential GDP and its determinants. Potential gross domestic product (GDP) is the level of output that an economy can produce at a constant inflation rate.
However, the cost of rising inflation could make an economy temporarily produce more than its potential level of output. The capital stock, the potential labor force depending on demographic factors and participation rates, the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, and the level of labor efficiency determine this potential output which is important to calculate the output gap.
Factors inhibiting the potential GDP of India from realizing its potential. 

• Fiscal policy and structural determinants of the economy. fiscal policies followed by the country directly impact the potential GDP as these determine the flow of capital and technology. 
• High employment generation in the economy will show that potential GDP to be high but it will not be achieved due to low productivity from employment generation. 
• Currency depreciation is another issue.GDP is calculated using American dollars after converting it from Indian rupees. The depreciation of Indian rupees vis a vis American dollars will reduce GDP value. 
• The inflow of foreign capital may decrease over some time due to various factors. This will result in the economy not being able to emulate the potential numbers. 
• The infrastructure growth in the domestic economy may not be in predicted lines. This will hamper the final contribution to GDP output. 
• Lots of practical reforms have taken place and they are broadly facilitating the macro growth and should ultimately also translate into a better corporate earnings environment. larger headline reforms like the Goods and Services Tax that have mixed results but a lot of micro-level reforms like the ease of doing business has improved the situation dramatically, This has a direct impact on potential GDP.

Q3: What are the main constraints in the transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India? (UPSC MAINS GS3 2020)
Ans: Indian agriculture support to the national gross domestic product (GDP) is around 15 percent. With food being the uttermost need of humans, the emphasis has been on commercializing agricultural production. Due to this, adequate production and even distribution of food have become a high priority global concern.
However, there are several difficulties involved in agricultural marketing as agricultural produce involves an element of risk like perishability and it again depends on the type of produce. If the agricultural produce happens to be seasonal, it also pose threat. Similarly, there are several risk elements involved in agricultural marketing.
Some major constraints associated with transportation and marketing of agricultural produce:

• Connectivity: There is a lack of connectivity from villages to markets. 
• Sorting and grading technology: Farmers lack knowledge about the process 
• Numerous stakeholders working in isolation: The food supply chain is complex with perishable goods and numerous small stakeholders. In India, the infrastructure connecting these partners is very weak. 
• Lack of demand estimation: Demand forecasting is absent and the farmers try to push whatever they produce into the market. 
• Lack of technology applications: Cold chain logistic supply chains should take advantage of technology improvements in data capture and processing, product tracking and tracing, synchronized freight transport transmit times for time compression along the supply chain, and supply-demand matching. 
• Lack of system integration: The supply chain needs to be designed and built as a whole in an integrated manner. The process of new product development, procurement, and order to delivery processes should be well designed and well supported with the help of IT tools and software. 
• Presence of a large number of unorganized retailers: At present, the unorganized retailers are linked with farmers through wholesalers or commission agents. The commission agents and wholesalers’ redundant supply chain practices make unorganized further inefficient. 
• Slowdown in production growth: With around 67 percent of landholdings being marginal, with an average size of 0.4 hectares, more than half of marginal farmers are likely to not have any excess income to spare beyond subsistence, hindering the improvements in farm-level productivity. 
• Weak rural Infrastructure: Lack of better roads and rail facilities creates logistics problem. 
• Absence of Cold Storage Facilities: It leads to spoiling of perishable items like fruits etc. 
• Unavailability of Insurance Products to protect goods while moving. 
• Presence of Asymmetric information: It is usually found that the middle man has more information than both farmers and consumers regarding prices, supplies, and stocks available. 
• Other issues: Apart from the above areas of concern, other issues such as Lack of applied research, Taxation issues, access to credit, obsolete technologies, etc. persist in the sector.

Way Forward

• Improving infrastructure through schemes like Ajeevika Grameen Express yojana, SAMPADA yojana for building warehouses. 
• Vertical coordination of farmers through cooperatives, contract farming, and retail chains would facilitate better delivery of output, reduce market risks, provide better infrastructure, attract more public interest, acquire better extension services, and create awareness regarding the prevailing and new technologies. 
• Customized logistics is another important immediate requirement to make logistics effective. This reduces the cost, facilitates the maintenance of the quality of the produce, and fulfills the requirements of targeted customers. 
• Information system for better coordination among different stakeholders from farmers to consumers is the need of the hour. The internet and mobile communication can also be used to enable information and financial transfer between the stakeholders. 
• There are initiatives such as the India Food Banking Network (IFBN), which is promoting the concept of collaborative consumption with support from the private sector and civil society organizations.

Q4: What are the challenges and opportunities of the food processing sector in the country? How can the income of the farmers be substantially increased by encouraging food processing? (UPSC Mains GS3 2020)
Ans: The food processing sector is one of the largest industries in India and is ranked 5th in terms of production, consumption, and export. It covers a range of products from sectors comprising agriculture, horticulture, plantation, animal husbandry, and fisheries.
However, over the years, with emerging of new markets and technologies, the sector has broadened its scope. It has started producing many new items like ready-to-eat food, beverages, processed and frozen fruits and vegetables, marine and meat products, etc. Food processing is one of the largest industries in the world from the viewpoint of the number of companies involved in the sector, as well as in terms of its total economic value.
Challenges related to the Food processing sector

• Small size companies: Indian food processing companies are small and can’t compete with global giants that invest heavily in R & D. 
• Lack of good laboratories in India: Food export to the US and EU demands high-quality standards. India lacks good laboratories to check heavy metal and other toxic contamination in food. 
• Lack of skilled workforce. We have only a few graduates in Food Technology. 
• Lack of the right vision and support from the government at the right time. 
• Lack of good transportation facilities. Roads are overburdened. 
• Lack of storage facilities and good production techniques. 
• Absence of Comprehensive national-level policy on the food processing sector: The food processing sector is governed by statutes rather than a single comprehensive policy on food processing. 
• Food Safety Laws & Inconsistency in State and Central policies: Though historically various laws were introduced to complement and supplement each other in achieving total food sufficiency, safety, and quality the result is that the food sector in India is governed by several different statutes rather than a single comprehensive enactment. 
• Lack of adequate trained manpower: Many positive developments in the food processing sector have also resulted in the apprehension about the emerging skill shortages due to a mismatch between the demand for specific skills and available supply. 
• Opportunities related to the food processing industry: This industry has very high employment intensity and hence it can play a role in employment generation as well. 
• In 2016, the Food Processing industry constituted more than 8% of India’s GDP through manufacturing. 
• The food-processing sector will address several concerns such as disguised unemployment in agriculture, rural poverty, food security, food inflation, improved nutrition, and prevention of wastage of food. 
• The cost of skilled manpower is relatively low as compared to other countries. 
• The Food Processing Industry is one of the major employment intensive segments contributing 13.04% of employment generated in all Registered Factory sector in 2012-13. 
• Food is the biggest expense for an urban and rural Indian household constituting a share of 38.5% and 48.6% of the total consumption expenditure of households in 2011-12 respectively. 
• With favorable economic & cultural transformation, a shift in attitudes & lifestyles, consumers are experimenting with different cuisines, tastes, and new brands. 
• The food processing sector in India ranks 1st in terms of employment& number of factories in operation and 3rd in terms of output.
• Curbing Migration: Employs in rural areas hence reduces migration from rural to urban. Resolves issues of urbanization. 
• 100% FDI is allowed in the sector. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) estimates that this sector has the potential to attract as much as the US $33 billion of investment over the next 10 years and also to generate employment of nine million person-days. 
• India’s share in global processed food items is very poor. It can help in offsetting the increasing trade deficit.

Potential of Food Processing Sector for substantially increasing farmer’s income

• India’s food processing sector is one of the largest in the world and its output is expected to reach $ 535 Billion by 2025-26. 
• It will help in increasing investment in Indian agriculture, bring new technological inputs, and will raise farmers’ incomes. It will also promote the diversification of Indian agriculture. 
• This sector also involves 16% of all the workforce in the organized sector and employs close to 5 crore people directly or indirectly. 
• Development of backward linkages by evolving conducive regulatory framework for contract and corporate farming and encouraging commodity clusters and intensive livestock rearing to source appropriate quality, quantities, and varieties of input by appropriate modifications to the APMC acts. 
• Develop dedicated freight corridors in rail, supplemented by concretized dual carriageways for the states and national highways, which will directly reduce the cost of goods supplied. 
• The Indian Council for Fertilizer and Nutrient Research (ICFNR) will adopt international best practices for research in the fertilizer sector, which will enable farmers to get good quality fertilizers at affordable rates and thereby achieve food security for the common man. 
• Several Fiscal Incentives to FPS including 100% income tax exemption to food processing units on profits for the first five years of operation and 25% thereafter for the next five years etc. provided by the government need to be continued 
• Reduction of Excise duty, customs duty exemption from service tax on pre-conditioning precooling, ripening waxing and retail packing, labeling of fruits and vegetables, and transportation of food grains are some other incentives available to the FPI sector 
• A special fund in NABARD worth INR 2,000 crore, designated as Food Processing Fund for proving affordable credit to food processing units in Mega & Designated Food Parks has been setup. This fund is used for providing loans at a concessional rate of 8-9% for 7 years period. 
• 42 mega food parks being set up with an allocated investment of INR 98 Billion which provides opportunities to increase farmer’s income. 
• Food processing industries make value addition to the raw food materials and hence make food items competitive in markets, easy to export, and easy to preserve.

By serving as a link between the agriculture and manufacturing sectors and by fulfilling a basic need of Indian citizens – an assured supply of affordable and quality food at all locations, this sector has the potential to be a major driver in India’s growth. In India, the optimum development of the food processing industry will contribute significantly in tackling several developmental concerns such as unemployment, rural poverty, food security, food inflation, malnutrition, massive food wastage, etc.

Q5: What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in health sector? (UPSC GS3 2020)
Ans: Nanotechnology is a field of research and innovation concerned with building 'things' - generally, materials and devices - on the scale of atoms and molecules. A nanometre is one-billionth of a meter. The ideas and concepts behind nanoscience and nanotechnology started with a talk entitled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” by physicist Richard Feynman in 1959.
However, it wasn't until 1981, with the development of the scanning tunneling microscope that could "see" individual atoms, that modern nanotechnology began.
Body
Applications of Nanotechnology in the Health Sector

• Effective Drug Delivery: One application of nanotechnology in medicine currently being developed involves employing nanoparticles to deliver drugs, heat, light, or other substances to specific types of cells.
  • For example, a team of scientists has created a nanomicelle that can be used for effective drug delivery to treat various cancers including breast, colon, and lung cancer.
• Diagnostic Techniques: Research in Nanotech is being done for using antibodies attached to carbon nanotubes in chips to detect cancer cells in the bloodstream.
• Antibacterial Treatments: Researchers at the University of Houston are developing a technique to kill bacteria using gold nanoparticles and infrared light. This method may provide a possible solution od the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
• Cell Repair: Nanotech research involves the use of manufactured nano-robots to make repairs at the cellular level.
  • Nanorobots could actually be programmed to repair specific diseased cells, functioning in a similar way to antibodies in our natural healing processes.

The use of nanotechnology in the field of medicine could revolutionize the way we detect and treat damage to the human body and disease in the future.

Q6: How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by the science-based technologies? (UPSC GS3 2020)
Ans: The modern lifestyle has been heavily impacted by technology due to impact of Fourth industrial revolution characterized by artificial learning, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing and Robotics. From education to employment and from farm to industries, Science and technology has impacted the day to day lifestyle in some way or other.
Impact of Science on our lives 

• Education: There has been a surge in scientific advancement in form of scientific learning, demonstration based on 3D technologies. 
• Use of technology to demonstrate different theories and e-learning has been developed under shadow of science. 
• Health: Development of science goes hands in hand with development of healthcare sector. Evolution in healthcare sector in India from e-medicines to e-consultancy is due to development of science. 
• Entertainment: Technology has transformed recreational activities characterized by 3-D effects in movies to VFX technology which has provided a new dimension to cinematography. 
• E-market place: Development of science has brought the marketplace to doorsteps. It is the result of development of e-commerce websites which has done so. 
• Further, online Bill payments and e-banking services have made lives comfortable by bringing these facilities to home. 
• Social Connectivity: Changed nature of social connectivity has brought the world together. 
• The interaction of people around the globe has increased due to social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. 
• Now, every regional problem is discussed as global problem while every global problem is treated as regional problem. Striking Changes triggered by Science based technology in agriculture. 
• Soil testing labs have increased the productivity of soil by indicating nutrient abundance and deficiency. 
• Precision irrigation technologies such as drip irrigation have reduced the consumption of water in one hand while checking land degradation on the other.Fertilizers of different kinds be it organic or inorganic, if used optimally has increased agricultural productivity. 
• Farm mechanization due to use of tractors, harvesters, thrashers e.t.c. has decreased dependence on manual labourers and increased farm productivity. 
• Processing facilities and storage facilities has increased the value of agricultural produce as well as their shelf life. 
• Use of nuclear radiation in controlled environment in treating agriculture produce has been possible due to development of science. 
• Irradiation is very effective in treating agricultural produce to enhance its shelf life. It leads to effective elimination of harmful bacteria and insects/pests. 
• Emergence of E-marketing due to development of technology has largely impacted re-distribution of agriculture produce across a region. 
• It has provided farmers better options to sell their produce anywhere with their choice. 
• Agriculture Education can be accessed by farmers at doorstepdue to emergence and spread of internet technology across the rural hinterland. 
• Development of innovative methods of farming practices such as LED farming, vertical farming, controlled environment agriculture, soil solarization technology and fertigation methods have given an impetus to agriculture development. 
• Genetic engineering and hybrid technology in agriculture has done a miracle to make India self sufficient in food while genetic engineering can solve our future problems also. 

The cohesive nature of science and development has resulted in rapid pace of economic development across the globe. It has also improved the living conditions of people and helped in enriching social capital.
Development and pace of agricultural growth rate has been interlinked and is experienced across the globe. India must put its effort to link different sectors of economy with emerging technologies to attain its sustainable development goals. It will also help India to achieve doubling the farmer’s income by 2022 coupled with attaining $5 trillion economy target by 2024.

Q7: How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? (UPSC MAINS GS3 2020)
Ans: An Environment Impact Assessment is basically done to make a scientific estimate of the likely impacts of a project, such as a mine, irrigation dam, industrial unit or waste treatment plant. To evaluate the impact of various developmental activities the EIA, 2006 was notified, which sets a form of guidelines to do the assessment. The government has recently come up with the draft EIA, 2020 to replace the previous method. The draft EIA has seen criticism over its multiple clauses. Apprehensions are surrounding that this will seriously affect the environment in favour of industry that violate the norms by starting work without valid clearance, expands the list of projects exempted from the public consultation, and would fail to ensure a robust post-environment clearance monitoring system.
The comparison between the purposed draft and the previous notification can be done based on the following parameters:

•  Exemption from the Public Consultation: Some of the major sensitive projects such as Offshore and onshore oil, gas and shale exploration, hydroelectric projects up to 25 MW etc. have been exempted from the draft EIA 2020. Earlier, in EIA 2006, they were the part of the screening through Expert Appraisal Committees. The exemption to a list of sensitive projects could impact the environment in a substantial manner.
• Post-facto environment clearance: The new provision for post facto environment has been made a part of the draft EIA 2020. The post-facto clearance would further damage the environment which could not be rectified in a post-facto manner. 
• Reduction in the time for public hearing: The notice period for public hearing has been cut from 30 days to 20 days. The reduction of time duration will make the draft EIA report difficult to study critically and constructively.
• Project Modernisation: Projects those involve more than 25% increase will require an environment assessment, and over 50% will attract public consultation. Earlier, in EIA 2006, there were no such limits. For example, this could be harmful for those projects which are already present in the eco-sensitive regions. 
• Single report for compliance: In EIA 2006, the two annual compliance reports had to be presented which has been replaced with one in draft 2020. Non- compliance has already been a big issue and the recent change would make the compliance procedure worst.
• Reporting violation: The proposed EIA 2020 draft, excludes the reporting of violation by the public and the government will take cognizance of reports only from the violator-promoter, government authority, Appraisal Committee or Regulatory Authority. This can further enhance the chances of corruption which is already a rampant.

By comparing the draft 2020 and EIA 2006, we may say that multiple clauses such as post- facto clearance removal for a categories of projects such as those in the eco-sensitive and hot-spots, enhanced time for public consultation, reducing the exemption list for some of the most sensitive subjects such as hydroelectric projects, vigilance of compliance report and cognizance of violation by general public can be some of the measures to enhance the impact of the draft EIA 2020.

Q8: What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?
Ans: The Jal Shakti Abhiyanaims at making water conservation a Jan Andolan through asset creation and extensive communication. The Jal Shakti Ministry has formed to provide clean and piped drinking water to every household in the country. Salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan are-

• Water conservation and rainwater harvesting  
• Renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks  
• Reuse and recharge structures  
• Watershed development  
• Intensive forestation  
• Development of Block and District Water Conservation Plans (To be integrated with the District Irrigation Plans)  
• KrishiVigyan Kendra Melas to promote efficient water use for irrigation (Per Drop More Crop), and a better choice of crops for water conservation  
• Urban Waste Water Reuse: In urban areas, plans/approvals with time-bound targets to be developed for wastewater reuse for industrial and agriculture purposes.  
• Every urban local body has been asked to first constitute a rainwater harvesting cell that would monitor groundwater extraction, water harvesting potential of the city, and oversee projects on rainwater harvesting.  
• 3D Village Contour Mapping: 3D Village Contour Maps may be created and made accessible for efficient planning of interventions

The government has also identified 1,592 blocks that are critical and overexploited, spread across 256 districts for the Jal Shakti Abhiyan.

Q9: Discuss different types of cybercrimes and measures required to be taken to fight the menace.
Ans: Cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves a computer, networked device or a network. While most cybercrimes are carried out in order to generate profit for the cybercriminals, some cybercrimes are carried out against computers or devices directly to damage or disable them, while others use computers or networks to spread malware, illegal information, images or other materials.
Types of Cybercrime 

• Hacking: Hacking is simply any unauthorized access of a computer system. Sometimes, hacking can be fairly harmless, such as rewriting sections of an existing software program to allow access to features the original designer did not intend. 
• Viruses, Worms, Malware and Ransom ware: Many types of malicious software can be delivered by a wide range of means. In the case of most viruses, they need to actually be downloaded in some way onto a hard drive. In targeted attacks, a victim may receive an innocent-looking email that is ostensibly from a co-worker or trusted individual containing a link to click on or file to download. 
• Cyber extortion: A crime involving an attack or threat of an attack coupled with a demand for money to stop the attack. 
• Crypto jacking: An attack that uses scripts to mine crypto currencies within browsers without the user’s consent. Crypto jacking attacks may involve loading crypto currency mining software to the victim’s system. 
• Cyber espionage: A crime involving a cybercriminal who hacks into systems or networks to gain access to confidential information held by a government or other organization. Attacks may be motivated by profit or by ideology. 
• Exit scam: The dark web, not surprisingly, has given rise to the digital version of an old crime known as the exit scam. In today’s form, dark web administrators divert virtual currency held in marketplace escrow accounts to their own accounts — essentially, criminals stealing from other criminals. 

Ways to prevent cyber-crimes 

• By Using Strong Passwords: Maintaining different password and username combinations for each of the accounts and withstand the desire to write them down. Weak passwords can be easily broken. 
• Keep social media private: Be sure that your social networking profiles (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) are set to be private. Once be sure to check your security settings. Be careful with the information that you post online. Once if you put something on the Internet and it is there forever. 
• Protect your storage data: Protect your data by using encryption for your important diplomatic files such as related to financial and taxes. 
• Protecting your identity online: We have to be very alert when we are providing personal information online. You must be cautious when giving out personal ids such as your name, address, phone number, and financial information on the Internet. 
• Keep changing passwords frequently: When it comes to password, don’t stick to one password. You can change your password frequently so that it may be difficult for the hackers to access the password and the stored data. 
• Securing your Phones: Many people do not know that their mobile devices are also unsafe for malicious software, such as computer viruses and hackers. Make sure that you download applications only from trusted sources. Don’t download the software /applications from unknown sources. It is also pivotal that you should keep your operating system up-to-date. 
• Call the right person for help: Try not to be nervous if you are a victim. If you come across illegal online content such as child exploitation or if you think it’s a cyber-crime or identity theft or a commercial scam, just like any other crime report this to your local police. There are so many websites to get help on cyber-crime. 
• Protect your computer with security software: There are many types of security software that are necessary for basic online security. Security software includes firewall and antivirus software. A firewall is normally your computer’s first line of security. It controls that that, what and where is the communication is going on the internet. So, it’s better to install security software which is from trusted sources to protect your computer. 
• Further, Government has taken several steps to prevent and mitigate cyber security incidents. 

These include: 

• Establishment of National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) for protection of critical information infrastructure in the country. 
• All organizations providing digital services have been mandated to report cyber security incidents to CERT-In expeditiously. 
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) has been launched for providing detection of malicious programmes and free tools to remove such programmes. 
• Issue of alerts and advisories regarding cyber threats and counter-measures by CERT-In. 
• Issue of guidelines for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) regarding their key roles and responsibilities for securing applications / infrastructure and compliance. 
• Provision for audit of the government websites and applications prior to their hosting, and thereafter at regular intervals. 
• Empanelment of security auditing organisations to support and audit implementation of Information Security Best Practices. 
• Formulation of Crisis Management Plan for countering cyber-attacks and cyber terrorism. 
• Conducting cyber security mock drills and exercises regularly to enable assessment of cyber security posture and preparedness of organizations in Government and critical sectors. 
• Conducting regular training programmes for network / system administrators and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) of Government and critical sector organisations regarding securing the IT infrastructure and mitigating cyber-attacks. 

In day-to-day life, everyone is leading their life with technology. Our daily life depends on technology. So, nowadays everybody knows the internet and aware of it. The Internet has everything that a man needs in terms of data. So, people are becoming addicted to the Internet. The percentage of the population using the internet is increasing day-by-day. National security is in some way getting dependent on the internet. But the new technologies which have arrived also brought unusual threats and Cyber-Crime is one such concept.

Q10: 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.(MAINS GS3 2020)
Ans: Border Management is an integral approach towards borders in which along with security enhancement, infrastructure & human development is undertaken. India’s border situation. 

• India has 15,106.7 Km of land border and a coastline of 7,516.6 Km including island territories. From Sir Creek to the Bay of Bengal, India’s land borders present a geographical diversity of a unique kind. Much of its borders are topographically difficult. 

Challenges in border management are peculiar like; 

• Some stretches of border are porous and easily negotiable 
• Some stretches of border are un-demarcated. 
• Border is physically unguarded at many places due to terrain constraints and lack of approachability. Also, these border regions have their own ethnic, cultural, religious and racial configurations distinct from the mainland and in some areas depicting an unmistakable affinity with those of across the borders. 
• The remoteness of local administration, its low visibility, illegal immigration, smuggling of arms ammunition and narcotic substances require number of measures from the point of view of national security. Hence, ‘the proper management of borders is vitally important for national security.’ Besides border guarding forces and other Central Government agencies, States’ Civil Administration, the border population is the most important ingredient in border management. 

Border Population role in Border management 
The people living in the border areas are the most important ingredients towards a secure and safe border. Village Defence and Development Committees at the base level with cooperation of the local populace would go a long way in enhancing security and development of the borders besides providing a sense of belonging to these people.
But there has been serious issues with local in border management due to following challenges: 
(a) Inheritance Problems faced by border population like: 

• Vulnerability to actions of border criminals 
• Restriction/control over movement by forces 
• Fear of unknown—threat of aggression by enemy, cross border shelling, firing etc. 
• Lack of industrialisation/economic progress, neglect by Government being frontier areas 
• Lack of infrastructure, means of communication, education, medical, water and remoteness. 

(b) Issues between Locals and Border Guarding Force (BGF) 

• Prevention of Smuggling Activities which is a Means of Livelihood to Border Population: Smuggling is means of livelihood for many people in bordering areas. Prevention of smuggling activities by BGF lead to a perceived feeling that, they unnecessarily interfere in the means of livelihood of local populace. 
• Lack of Knowledge of Local Language: There is often a lack of communication between the local people and the BGF causing conflict/distrust. 
• A Sense of Distrust between the BGF and the Local Community: In many areas, BGF personnel have little communication with the local people to prevent connivance with smugglers and other criminals. The BGF field leadership keeps minimum contact with the local villagers. Hence, a communication gap exists which is detrimental to a congenial working environment. 
• Border Fencing and Connected Problems: The construction of the fencing has also generated many differences between the local villagers and the BGF. Access to the farmland across the fencing is regulated.Frequent frisking and timely gate opening are irritants to farmers. The BGF have however their own constraints. 
• Inherent limitations of BGF: The concept of community relationship, if not alien, is still not given due importance by BGF. Border guarding does not merely mean placing a sentry on a vantage point for preventing any threat to territorial sovereignty and sanctity Ways to manage favourable perception among locals One of the most important challenges of border management is integration of local community in border management. Preventing alienation of border population, winning their hearts and minds by formulating people inclusive border management policies is of paramount importance. 

This can be achieved by: 

• Providing adequate security. 
• Improvement of basic amenities, infrastructure and living conditions of people in border areas. 
• Assist in generating employment opportunities. 
• BGF must identify community-oriented programmes, which could be: Identification and development of projects in terms of infrastructure, health, education, employment generation, etc. 
• An effective communication with the villagers leading to better understanding, win public trust and to encourage public co-operation to develop public understanding of problems faced by the force. 
• Projecting positive image of BGF through media. 
• A strict adherence to code of conduct, ethical standards of discipline and 
• integrity and attempts on attitudinal changes 

Conclusion

• Border management in India, as an institution carries British legacy and is still disliked and suspected by people. The general feeling amongst the local population and the local government is that, the Central force personnel are unaware of the sentiments of the local people. Thus, the forces are slowly distancing away from local people and a feeling of mistrust is growing. 
• The BGF should give up the mindset that, everyone living in the border region is a criminal. They must imbibe the idea of involving the local community in border guarding The widening divide between BGF and population in bordering areas is cause of concern, since effective border guarding is not possible without community support. 
• It is, therefore, of paramount importance that, BGFs evolve ways and means, whereby people develop a feeling of attachment toward them. The community should serve as force multiplier in border management. 
• Once the local population along the bordering areas is integrated in the mainstream, a certain amount of moral responsibility would automatically come in. The realistic ‘community’s participation in India’s border management’ can be achieved only thereafter.