Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Start your answer by describing present scenario of internal security in India.
• Discuss challenges faced and the measures taken by the government to address these challenges.
• Conclude accordingly.

Introduction

Internal security is a critical issue for any country, and India is no exception. In recent years, India has faced a number of challenges in maintaining internal security, including terrorism, cybercrime, and insurgency.

Body

• Internal security challenges faced by India:
  • Terrorism:
    • Terrorism is a major security concern for India, as it has been the target of numerous terrorist attacks in recent years. These attacks have been carried out by a variety of groups, including separatist movements and religious extremists.
      • The most notable of these attacks include the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which ten terrorists targeted various locations in the city, killing 164 people and injuring over 300.
  • Cybercrime:
    • Cybercrime is another major security concern for India, as it has become increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks in recent years. These attacks have been carried out by a variety of actors, including hackers, cybercriminals, and state-sponsored groups.
      • The most notable of these attacks include the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack, in which computers in India were among those affected by the malware.
  • Insurgency:
    • Insurgency is a major security concern for India, as it has been the target of numerous separatist movements in recent years. These movements have been carried out by a variety of groups, including ethnic and religious minorities.
      • The most notable of these movements include the Naxalite insurgency, which has been active in the country since the 1960s.
  • Border security:
    • India has a large and porous border with several neighboring countries, which can be used to smuggle weapons, illegal drugs, and other contraband into the country.
  • Illegal Immigration:
    • India also faces a large influx of illegal immigrants from neighboring countries, which poses a security threat and puts pressure on the country's resources.
• Measures taken by government to tackle these challenges:
  • Combat Terrorism:
    • The establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in 2011. It is responsible for coordinating the efforts of various government agencies to combat terrorism, and has been credited with improving the country's ability to respond to terrorist attacks.
  • Tackling cybercrime:
    • The establishment of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) in 2004. CERT-In is responsible for coordinating the efforts of various government agencies to combat cybercrime, and has been credited with improving the country's ability to respond to cyber-attacks.
  • Insurgency:
    • The Indian government has taken a number of measures to address the threat of insurgency, including the use of military force against separatist groups. The government also maintains a strong intelligence network to gather information and prevent attacks.
      • The government has also launched various development initiatives in the North-East, aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment, which are often cited as root causes of insurgency in the region.
  • Tackling Left-wing extremism:
    • Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to tackle the problem of Left-Wing Extremism, by launching a security-oriented approach, and development-oriented approach, and a rights-based approach.
      • The government has also established a special task force to improve coordination between various agencies involved in tackling the problem of Left-Wing Extremism.

Conclusion

• There is a need for a more comprehensive and effective strategy to improve internal security in the country like:
  • Strengthening border security to prevent infiltration by terrorists and illegal arms and drug trafficking.
  • Enhancing intelligence gathering and sharing capabilities to detect and prevent terrorist attacks.