UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions 2022: GS3 Internal Security & Disaster Management | UPSC Mains: Internal Security & Disaster Management PDF Download

Q1: Discuss the types of organised crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels. (Internal Security)
Ans: 

• Organised Crime: Organised crime refers to illegal activities conducted on a large scale for profit, strategically planned and executed by powerful criminal groups.
• Major Types of Organised Crime: Some prominent forms include smuggling, racketeering, drug and human trafficking, among others.
• Categories of Organised Crime: Organised crime can be broadly divided into 'traditional' and 'non-traditional'. Traditional activities encompass extortion, contract killings, and smuggling, while non-traditional activities involve cybercrime, enterprise and political corruption, white-collar crimes, etc.
• Relation with Terrorism: Terrorism is not officially categorized as organised crime since its motivation is driven by political and ideological agendas rather than profit. However, organised crime and terrorism often intersect and complement each other.

Linkages Between Organised Crime and Terrorism:

• Terrorists often rely on financing and logistical support, frequently provided by entities engaged in organised crime.
• At times, terrorists themselves engage in activities falling under organised crime, like Left Wing Extremists resorting to extortion for funding against the state.
• Instances such as the 1993 bombings in Mumbai demonstrate that organised crime entities and individuals also offer logistical support to terrorists, including smuggling hazardous materials, providing human resources, establishing communication networks, offering information, and arranging financial assistance.

Conclusion: The close linkages between organised crime and terrorism, both at national and transnational levels, pose a substantial threat to the security of a country.

Q2: What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security. (Internal Security)
Ans: Maritime Security in India: India shares a maritime border of over 7000 km with seven nations, and instruments of maritime security play a vital role in safeguarding the nation's territorial sovereignty against potential marine threats.

Challenges:

• Issues related to smuggling and human trafficking along the maritime border.
• Challenges of cross-border terrorism.
• Infiltration of illegal migration.
• Piracy concerns in maritime trade.
• Environmental hazards in the maritime domain.

Initiatives by India:

1. Organisational:
   • Introduction of the Security and Growth for All (SAGAR) policy for integrated collaboration with Indian Ocean region nations.
   • Establishment of an integrated theatre command.
   • Setting up the International Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean region in Gurugram.
   • Launch of the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) by the Quad for better coordination and awareness.
   • Participation in various organizations and dialogues such as IONS, IORA, and India-EU Maritime Dialogue.
2. Technical:
   • Mission-based deployment of naval ships and aircraft, including INS Vikrant, Nuclear Submarines, and Project 75I.

   • Development of digital cargo and bay arrangement optimization for improved maritime security efficiency.

   • Introduction of the advanced Electronic Warfare System 'Shakti' in the Indian Navy.

   • Utilization of advanced electronic and digital surveillance along the marine border.

3. Procedural:

   • Adherence to the rules and regulations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
   • Operational interactions with friendly nations via joint Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) surveillance.

Way Forward:

• Swift coordination and collaboration among various security institutions to enhance efficiency in maritime security services.
• Establishment of an integrated multilateral data sharing platform for preventing marine threats through multilateral information sharing.
• Holistic sharing of best practices among all friendly nations.

Q3: 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. (Internal Security)
Ans: Cybersecurity involves safeguarding cyberspace, including critical information infrastructure, from attacks, damage, misuse, and economic espionage. It encompasses a set of technologies and practices aimed at preventing various types of cybercrimes.

Key Elements of Cybersecurity:

• Application Security: Measures taken during an application's development process to protect it from threats arising from flaws in design, development, and deployment.
• Information Security: Protection of information to prevent unauthorized access, identity theft, and ensure privacy.
• Network Security: Activities to ensure the usability, reliability, integrity, and safety of the network.
• Disaster Recovery Planning: Involves risk assessment, priority establishment, and development of recovery strategies in case of a cyber-attack.
• End-user Awareness: Dissemination of information and raising awareness about various cybersecurity facets among the public.

Challenges in Cybersecurity:

• Increase in Cyber-attacks: Notable rise in cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure.
• Lack of Infrastructure and Trained Human Resources: Insufficient necessary infrastructure and trained personnel to address cybersecurity issues.
• Private Sector Focus: Inadequate emphasis by the private sector on developing preparedness for cyber-attacks.
• Digital Ecosystem Vulnerability: Expanding digital ecosystem and inadequate infrastructure expose large amounts of data to cyber threats.
• International Cooperation: Non-signatory status to the Budapest Convention, hindering global cooperation in addressing cybercrimes.

India's Cybersecurity Measures

• National Cyber Security Strategy:

  • Information Technology Act: Enacted in 2000 and amended in 2008, addresses cybercrime mitigation and related issues.
  • Specialized Agencies: Establishment of agencies like CERT-In, NCIIPC, and I4C for dealing with cybercrime.
  • Government Initiatives: Initiatives such as Cyber Surakshit Bharat, NCCC, Cyber Swachhta Kendra, and ISEA for awareness and mitigation.
  • National Cyber Security Policy: Implemented in 2013 to combat cybercrimes.
  • National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: Conceptualized by DSCI in 2020, awaiting implementation for addressing evolving cyber threats.

While India has taken steps to counter cybercrimes, ongoing efforts are crucial to effectively address the evolving nature of cyber threats.

Q4: Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism. (Internal Security)
Ans: Naxalism is identified as the primary security threat to the country, deriving its name from the village Naxalbari in West Bengal. Originating in 1967 under the leadership of Kanu Sanyal and Jagan Santhal, the Naxal Movement initially rebelled against local landlords in a land dispute. The movement spread across eastern India, particularly in less developed states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.

Emerging Issues:

• The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, deprives tribals of depending on forest produce, leading to massive displacement due to developmental and mining projects.
• Administrative failure to provide essential services like education, freedom, sanitation, and food in Naxalite-affected regions. Confusion exists on whether to address Naxalism as a social issue or a security threat.
• Infrastructural problems in some villages, such as communication and connectivity, along with a lack of technical intelligence to combat Naxalites.
• Lack of political participation by the tribal community and the inability of political authorities to uplift the deprived sections structurally.

Strategy to Tackle Naxalism:

• Social Dimensions:
  • The Aspirational District Programme addresses Left Wing Extremism (LWE) holistically, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities and improving governance.
  • The Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme reimburses security forces' needs, such as ex-gratia payments and compensation, aiming to combat LWE violence.
  • Initiating more dialogues between Naxalites and government officials, emphasizing equal political participation, and providing access to basic resources like forests, education, sanitation, and food.
• Economic Dimensions:
  • Addressing economic disparity to curb the growth of Naxalism.
  • Generating more employment with higher wages to uplift the skills of the people in the affected region.
  • Implementing a coherent national strategy by the Central Government to end Naxalism.
• Developmental Dimensions:
  • The Road Connectivity Project for LWE-affected areas (RCPLWE) enhances road connectivity.
  • The LWE Mobile Tower Project improves mobile connectivity in LWE areas.
  • Addressing infrastructure concerns in Naxalite-affected regions.

Despite limited success in tackling Naxalism, the root causes remain unaddressed. Central and State Governments must continue collaborating to develop a common strategy.

Q5: Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples. (Disaster Management)
Ans:
Cloudbursts: Cloudbursts refer to brief, intense rainfall events occurring over a limited area. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it is a weather phenomenon characterized by unforeseen precipitation exceeding 100mm/h across approximately 20-30 square km. Typically observed in the Himalayan region in the Indian Subcontinent, cloudbursts are short-lived and impactful.

Mechanism of Cloudburst:

• Moisture-laden air encountering hilly terrain leads to the formation of a vertical column of cloud, known as a cumulonimbus cloud. These clouds are often associated with rain, thunder, and lightning.
• These unstable clouds create an intense rainstorm over a small area, becoming trapped in the ridges and valleys between hills.

Occurrence of Cloudburst: The occurrence of cloudbursts is influenced by maximum relative humidity, cloud cover, low temperature, and slow winds. These conditions lead to the rapid condensation of clouds, resulting in a cloudburst.

Recent Incidents:

• The Amarnath Cloudburst in July 2022 resulted in significant casualties among pilgrims on the yatra.
• In August 2022, cloudbursts and flash floods caused destruction and loss of life in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Necessity for Precautionary Measures: Given the increasing frequency of cloudbursts, there is a pressing need to establish a dense network of weather instruments and enhance computing capabilities, particularly in hilly regions.