2015 · GS Paper 3 · Q18 · 12 marks
Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous for the internal security of our country?
In short
ISIS is a Salafi-jihadist group that declared a caliphate in 2014 and seeks a global caliphate, and it endangers India mainly by radicalising youth online into lone actors and small modules. In 2016, 21 people from Kerala left to join its Khorasan branch.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 276 words
Origins
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate from Mosul in June 2014.
Mission
A Salafi-jihadist group, it seeks a global caliphate under its version of sharia, erasing borders such as Sykes-Picot, and urges Muslims to migrate (hijrah) or strike where they live.
Reach
Its affiliates were active in 22 countries and caused 1,805 deaths in 2024 (Global Terrorism Index 2025).
Self-radicalised youth
The 21 people from Kerala's Kasaragod and Palakkad who joined Islamic State Khorasan Province in 2016 needed no handler across the LoC.
Lone wolves and modules
The ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car blast of October 2022 and the Pune module busted by the NIA in 2023 show how small cells evade detection.
Communal polarisation
Its propaganda seeks reprisals that deepen Hindu-Muslim distrust, and in May 2019 it claimed a "Wilayah al-Hind" after a clash in Kashmir to draw local militants into its fold.
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Extremism17 questions
Asked in 11 of 14 sittings since 2013
- 2026Separatist movements have been one of the major factors contributing to militancy and instability in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Bring out actions taken by the Government to bring J&K into national mainstream. Discuss pre and post abrogation status of Articles 370 and 35A. Also bring out positive impacts of abrogation of both articles in mainstreaming the state. (Answer in 250 words)
- 2025The 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 ?
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2015 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.