GS3 PYQs (Mains Answer Writing): Terrorism | UPSC Mains: Internal Security & Disaster Management PDF Download

Q1: Explain how nacro- terrorism has emerged as a serious threat across the country. Suggest suitable measures to counter narco-terrorism. (Answer in 150 words)
Ans: Introduction
Narco-terrorism involves organized terror by states, insurgents, or criminal groups using drug trafficking to achieve political, economic, or social goals, primarily in regions like the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle.
Narco-Terrorism as a Threat
It poses a combined threat of violence and organized crime, undermining nations, corrupting institutions, and fueling insecurity by funding insurgencies, cartels, and extremist groups worldwide. In India, states like Northeast, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir are heavily impacted. Drug networks exploit porous borders with Afghanistan and Myanmar to finance terrorism.

Measures to Combat Narco-Terrorism

• Improved Border Security: Deploy advanced technologies like drones, satellites, and AI surveillance to curb drug smuggling.
• Financial Oversight: Strengthen systems to track and disrupt funding linked to narcotics and terrorism.
• Global Collaboration: Enhance partnerships with organizations like UNODC and Interpol to dismantle narco-terror networks.
• Awareness and Rehabilitation: Promote anti-drug campaigns and de-addiction programs to reduce drug demand.
• Legal Strengthening: Enforce tougher laws to penalize drug traffickers and terror financiers.

Conclusion
Combating narco-terrorism requires a comprehensive strategy, including fortified border security, international cooperation, and strict anti-money laundering measures like the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Addressing socio-economic factors, promoting alternative livelihoods, and investing in education are vital for reducing the allure of drug trafficking and terrorism, ensuring long-term stability.

Q2: 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. (Internal Security)
Ans: Since its establishment in 1947, India has witnessed various forms of terrorist and insurgent activities. Over the years, the country has learned from its mistakes and developed numerous strategies to address terror funding and related activities.
Major Sources of Terror Funding:

• State Sponsorship: The use of terrorism to advance diplomatic interests is a known practice, with states supporting terrorists for their purposes.
• Counterfeit Currency: Involves the direct printing and circulation of fake currency in the market, often used by neighboring states to destabilize the Indian economy.
• Organized Crime: Criminal organizations collaborate and are frequently connected to larger terrorist groups, creating a two-way flow of resources.
• Extortion: Remains a significant source of terrorism funding in India, particularly in the North-East.
• Hawala System: An illegal method of money transfer, usually across international borders, utilized by criminal networks.

Efforts to Curtail Sources:

• National Investigation Agency (NIA): The premier agency in India for combating terrorism across states without requiring special permission.
• Unlawful Activities Prevention Act: Anti-terror legislation aimed at designating individuals as "terrorists."
• National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID): A centralized data library of terror and crime-related information.
• SAMADHAN Doctrine: Developed to address Left-Wing Extremism problems, it also aims to restrict the access of terrorist organizations to funds.

Recently, the third No Money for Terror (NMFT) Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing was held in New Delhi, India, with objectives to:

• Collaborate with countries worldwide to reduce terror and extremist funding.
• Establish a secretariat in the country, not as an investigative body but based on collaboration and cooperation principles.
• Investigate new and emerging threats and methods of propagating terrorism.

Being surrounded by two hostile neighbors leaves India no room for complacency regarding internal security. Through various measures, India continues to combat the battle against terrorism.

Q3: 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. 
Ans: Introduction
Terrorism can be defined as the calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.
Causes of terrorism

• Lack of political legitimacy and continuity, as well as a lack of integration for the political fringes, encourages ideological terrorism.
• Perceptions of deprivation and inequality, especially amongst culturally defined groups. This can lead to civil violence, of which terrorism may be a part.
• Terrorist tactics are used not out of a random desire to fire rockets at civilians but to leverage violence to gain specific concessions.
• Socio-economic explanations of terrorism suggest that various forms of deprivation drive people to terrorism, or that they are more susceptible to recruitment by organisations using terrorist tactics. Poverty, lack of education or lack of political freedom are a few examples.
• Extreme ideologies may sometime result in hatred towards other sections of society and may lead to terrorism. Examples of terrorist groups motivated by ideology include the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamal Eelam (LTTE).

The linkages and obnoxious nexus of terrorism include:

• Terrorism and organised crime aid each other to thrive and survive. The financial proceeds of organised crime such as extortion/kidnapping are made legal through money laundering and then used to fund terrorist activities.
• Terrorist groups levy taxes on drug traffickers to provide security to criminals in their controlled area.
• Terrorist groups act as proxies of enemy governments which in turn provide them funding and shelter.

The measures undertaken to combat terrorism are:

• Adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
• Strengthening national coordination mechanisms to promote inter-agency participation and
• information exchange, facilitating joint monitoring, threat assessment.
• Updating national legislation to ensure that terrorist and organised crime offences are precisely defined.
• Awareness generation and deradicalization of the youth to wean them away from the clutches of their influencers.

Q4: 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?
Ans: India has been hit by terrorism since a long time, like, 1993 Bombay blasts, attack on Parliament in 2011, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Pathankot attacks etc.
In view of such attacks it becomes imperative for India to check this rising menace, for which the following steps can be taken: 

• Ensure co-ordination among the intelligence and security agencies to check infiltration of terror activity. Empowering and engaging with civil society and local communities can help in countering radicalization and to stop the spread of violent extremism. Given the important role of educational establishments in promoting the values of non-violence, peaceful coexistence and tolerance, education must feature prominently in counter radicalization programs. Several initiatives that promote alliance of civilizations and intercultural dialogue must be promoted to counter terrorism. 
• For instance, the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrated on 31st October promotes unity in India. Enhancing security presence along the international boundaries and seal the porous borders. Undertaking policies to tackle economic and social inequalities will help in deterring disgruntled youth from being lured towards terrorism. Terrorist organizations have successfully taken advantage of the great benefits of the Internet. 
• Hence, countering radicalization on digital media must be given priority. Governments should intervene in this matter through monitoring and counter-propaganda programs Incorporating ‘SAMADHAN’ in security operations in LWE affected areas and at same time focusing on development projects in Red corridor districts. 
• Sources of funding NGO, charities and donations are an important sourcing of funds for terrorism. These funds are mostly claimed through religious appeal, coercion and fears of victimization. Counterfeiting of Indian currency not only funds terrorism, but, more importantly, it is used as a tool by neighboring states to destabilize the Indian economy. 
• Drug financing are also a major sources of terrorism financing in India. Biggest source of internal funding for terrorist groups in India remains extortion. This is especially relevant for groups in the North-East and the Maoist-affected areas.

Q5: ‘Terrorism is emerging as a competitive industry over the last few decades.” Analyse the above statement. (UPSC MAINS GS3 2016)
Ans: Terrorism refers to the unlawful use of violence in order to further the social, political or religious ideology of a group of people, referred to as terrorists. The use of terror to achieve aims in modern world dates back to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, which led to the outbreak of World War I. 
The global outlook for terrorism since the last few decades shows that it has several characteristics of a competitive industry as: Proliferation of numerous terror outfits spreading terror, akin to numerous industries producing the same goods.
Control over factors of production such as: 

• land – IS and Taliban occupy substantial land in Iraq-Syria and Afghanistan respectively. 
• labour – by recruiting people. 
• capital – by state-sponsored funding (Hezbollah and Houthis by Iran, Syrian rebels by US and Saudi Arabia etc.) or by selling goods such as oil from the land controlled by them. 
• entrepreneurship – emergence of leaders which set up new terror outfits, akin to employees leaving the industries to start their own ventures. 
• Competition for the market share and diversification of portfolio to include newer products (attacks) – from IEDs to vehicular bombs to suicide bombers and fidayeen-type attacks. Offices in different continents and franchising terror – Al Qaeda have its branches in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) as well as Africa (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb). Boko Haram, a Nigerian terror outfit, has pledged it’s allegiance to Islamic State (IS). 
• Leveraging social media for marketing their ideologies and recruiting new employees (fighters) from social media by training professional recruiters. Industry provides wages, accommodation and becomes a part of life for the worker. Terror outfits also provide these facilities and promote themselves as a new way of life. 
• Disruptive innovation that affects the system disproportionally, such as brainwashing and the sudden rise of “lone-wolf” attacks, which are very hard to foresee or prevent. However, the biggest difference between terrorist outfits and industries is that while traditional industry seeks to produce goods and services that are beneficial or entertaining to the mankind and make human work easier. 
• However, terrorism only spreads fear, hate, and uncertainty. There is a need for the world to join hands and take concrete multilateral initiatives to ensure that terror groups are dealt with a heavy hand. Accepting and ratifying the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) proposed by India would be good first step.