2020 · GS Paper 3 · Q20 · 15 marks
Analyze 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.
In short
India's Pakistan border and LoC face state-backed infiltration, drone-borne drugs and arms, while the Bangladesh and Myanmar borders carry insurgents, narcotics, migration, cattle smuggling and fake currency. The BSF, Army, Assam Rifles and agencies like the NIA and NCB counter them under the one border, one force principle.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 300 words
Myanmar border
Insurgents shelter in Sagaing camps, about 47,000 ha of poppy (UNODC, 2023) feeds heroin and methamphetamine through Moreh and Champhai, and the 2021 coup pushed refugees into India.
Bangladesh border
The porous line carries illegal migration, cattle smuggling, fake currency via Malda and trafficking, and the Burdwan blast (2014) exposed cross-border cells.
Pakistan border
A drug-terror nexus uses drones over Punjab and tunnels in Samba and Kathua to push drugs, arms and infiltrators.
Line of Control
Infiltrating militants struck at Uri (2016) and Pahalgam (2025), and India answered with surgical strikes and Operation Sindoor (2025).
BSF
It guards the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders under the one border, one force principle (2001), using BOLD-QIT (2019) on the Brahmaputra.
Army
It holds the LoC with the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System, with BSF under its operational control.
Assam Rifles
It guards the Myanmar border and fights insurgents, as in Operation Sunrise (2019), despite dual ministry control.
Agencies
The NIA, NCB, DRI and the Multi Agency Centre handle terror funding, drugs and intelligence.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020 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.