2025 · GS Paper 3 · Q9 · 10 marks
Terrorism is a global scourge. How has it manifested in India ? Elaborate with contemporary examples. What are the counter measures adopted by the State ? Explain.
In short
India faces terrorism as cross-border jihadi attacks, urban white-collar modules, Maoist IED violence and online radicalisation, and counters it with stronger laws, specialised agencies, punitive deterrence and terror-finance curbs. Operation Sindoor in May 2025, after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, hit nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 295 words
Cross-border jihadi terror
Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed act through fronts such as The Resistance Front, from Pulwama (2019, 40 CRPF personnel killed) to Pahalgam (2025).
Urban white-collar modules
The November 2025 car blast near Delhi's Red Fort was traced to a Jaish-linked module that included doctors.
Maoist and online terror
The January 2025 Bijapur IED killed eight District Reserve Guard personnel and their driver, while ISIS-inspired lone actors, as in the 2022 Coimbatore car blast, are radicalised online.
Stronger laws
The 2019 UAPA amendment allows individuals to be designated terrorists, and Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 defines the terrorist act.
Specialised institutions
The NIA, the Multi Agency Centre and the NSG anchor investigation, intelligence and response; the NIA won 150 convictions in 157 concluded trials by March 2025 (MHA Annual Report 2024-25).
Deterrence by punishment
After Uri (2016) and Balakot (2019), Operation Sindoor (May 2025) hit nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.
Choking finance
India hosted the No Money for Terror conference in 2022 and earned FATF's top "regular follow-up" rating in 2024.
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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 ?
All 17 questions, sorted by sub-topic, with model answers and practice.
Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025 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.