Question map
Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called :
Explanation
Operation Sadbhavana is a resolve by the Indian Army to come closer to the population in Jammu and Kashmir and develop mutual faith and trust. It was officially launched in 1998, especially in rural areas near the Line of Control (LOC), where projects are planned according to the needs and desires of the local population and are handed over to the state government after successful initiation.[1] This operation specifically focuses on addressing the basic needs of local populations in remote areas through various developmental projects.
In contrast, Operation Madad (also referred to as Operation Goodwill) was launched under Military Civic Action programmes aimed at "Winning the Hearts and Minds" (WHAM) of the people in the region[2], which has a broader focus on civic action rather than specifically targeting upliftment through addressing basic needs in remote areas. The key distinction is that Operation Sadbhavana is explicitly designed for population upliftment through needs-based projects in remote areas, making it the correct answer.
Sources- [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army_operations_in_Jammu_and_Kashmir
- [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army_operations_in_Jammu_and_Kashmir
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic GS-3 Internal Security question disguised as Current Affairs. 'Operation Sadbhavana' is the flagship 'Winning Hearts and Minds' (WHAM) doctrine of the Army in J&K/Ladakh. If you only read History books, you missed it; if you read Defence/Security columns, this was a sitter.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Is "Operation Sankalp" an Indian Army operation aimed at uplifting local populations in remote areas by addressing their basic needs?
- Statement 2: Is "Operation Maitri" an Indian Army operation aimed at uplifting local populations in remote areas by addressing their basic needs?
- Statement 3: Is "Operation Sadbhavana" an Indian Army operation aimed at uplifting local populations in remote areas by addressing their basic needs?
- Statement 4: Is "Operation Madad" an Indian Army operation aimed at uplifting local populations in remote areas by addressing their basic needs?
Describes 'Operation Maitri' — a named Indian operation initiated by the PM that provided blankets, food, water, medicines and helicopters for disaster relief in remote rural areas.
A student could use this as a pattern that Indian 'operations' can be humanitarian/relief efforts and check whether Sankalp is similarly described in news/official releases as relief/uplift work.
Describes 'Operation Meghdoot' as an Indian armed forces operation to secure territory (Siachen) — showing 'Operation' names are commonly used for military actions.
Use this pattern to test whether Sankalp appears in military/defence contexts (combat, territorial control) rather than welfare contexts.
Mentions coordinated military actions with operation names (e.g., 'Safed Sagar') during Kargil, reinforcing that operation names often denote combat/defence missions.
Compare contexts where the name 'Sankalp' appears (media/official reports) to see if it's grouped with combat operations like Safed Sagar or with relief operations like Maitri.
Shows 'Operation' is also used for non-military government initiatives (Operation Barga — a land reform/upliftment programme).
Apply this example to consider that 'Operation Sankalp' could be a civil/uplift programme; check whether Sankalp is linked to a government department (agriculture, social welfare) rather than the Army.
Describes use of troops and named operation (Meghdoot) in inhospitable, remote environments (glacier), indicating military operations can involve sustained presence in remote areas.
A student could ask whether Sankalp involves army deployment in remote areas for security/logistics versus civilian uplift, by checking deployment details and operational objectives.
Explicitly names 'Operation Maitri' as initiated by the Prime Minister of India in response to a disaster and lists requested aid items (blankets, food, water, medicines, doctors, drivers, helicopters) and notes remote rural areas were difficult to reach.
A student could connect this to basic facts about disaster relief (military frequently used for logistics/remote access) to judge whether the operation's aim included addressing basic needs in remote areas.
Describes an Indian military operation (Kargil conflict) coordinated between Army and Air Force, showing 'Operation' is commonly used for military actions.
Use this pattern to test whether 'Operation Maitri' might be military-led by checking if relief operations also adopt similar coordination and command structures.
Describes Operation Meghdoot as an Indian armed forces operation to secure territory, reinforcing that many named 'Operations' are combat/military in nature.
A student could contrast Meghdoot (military territorial aim) with Maitri (relief items listed in snippet 3) to infer differences in purpose and likely leading agency (defence vs civilian/relief coordination).
Shows 'Operation' can denote non-military government programmes (Operation Barga was a land reform/uplift measure), so the label 'Operation' does not prove a purely military aim.
Combine this rule with snippet 3 to consider that 'Operation Maitri' could be a government-led relief/uplift effort possibly involving civilian agencies alongside or instead of the Army.
Refers to an Indian Army operation neutralising militants, again illustrating the military usage of 'operations' and that some operations focus on security rather than social uplift.
A student could use this pattern to check whether Operation Maitri's described activities (aid, access to cut-off villages) align more with relief than with security-focused military operations.
- Explicitly identifies Operation Sadbhavana as a resolve by the Indian Army to come closer to the local population and build trust.
- States the operation was launched especially in rural areas near the Line of Control, indicating a focus on remote communities.
- Notes that projects are planned according to the needs and desires of the local population, implying attention to their basic needs.
Describes 'Operation Maitri' — an Indian-initiated operation providing blankets, food, water, medicines, doctors and helicopters for disaster relief, showing the military/state use of 'Operation' for humanitarian relief to remote areas.
A student could generalize that Indian operations sometimes provide basic-needs relief via military/logistical assets and therefore consider that 'Operation Sadbhavana' might similarly be an army-led civic/relief effort focused on local welfare.
Notes India's strong military role internationally and participation in peacekeeping, implying the Indian armed forces undertake non-combat roles beyond warfare.
Combine this with knowledge that armies perform civic action and relief tasks to hypothesize that an operation named 'Sadbhavana' could be a non-combat army initiative for local upliftment.
Describes 'Operation Barga' — a non-military 'Operation' used for a social/land-reform program, illustrating that the term 'Operation' in India can denote developmental or welfare initiatives.
A student could infer that 'Operation' names are not exclusively military/combat and that 'Operation Sadbhavana' might therefore be a welfare/upliftment program (potentially run by civil or military agencies).
Describes the Strategic Priority on Adaptation aimed to address local adaptation needs and generate local benefits, showing a pattern of organized programs targeted at local basic needs and adaptation.
Using this pattern, a student could view 'Operation Sadbhavana' as plausibly fitting the genre of targeted programs that address local/basic needs in vulnerable or remote communities.
- Identifies Operation Madad (Operation Goodwill) as an Indian Army initiative.
- Places the operation within Military Civic Action programmes aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the local population (a social/uplift objective).
- Groups Operation Goodwill (i.e., Operation Madad) with other operations described as humanitarian or having social aims.
- Supports the characterization of the operation as socially oriented rather than purely military.
Mentions 'Operation Maitri' as an Indian-initiated rescue/humanitarian operation providing blankets, food, water, medicines, doctors and helicopters.
A student could note that Indian 'Operation' names have been used for disaster-relief/humanitarian missions and check if 'Madad' (meaning help) fits that pattern geographically and functionally.
Describes 'Operation Meghdoot' as an Indian armed forces operation to secure territory (Siachen), showing that 'Operation' is commonly used for military territorial missions.
Use the pattern that some 'Operation' names denote military actions to ask whether Madad was military or humanitarian by comparing stated objectives and actors.
References 'Safed Sagar' as an air force operation coordinated with the army during Kargil, illustrating that named operations can be specific to a service and a mission type (combat/defense).
A student could check whether 'Madad' is attributed to the Army specifically or to civilian/relief agencies to infer its likely nature.
'Operation Barga' is an example of an 'Operation' used for a state-level socio-economic reform (land-recording and protection of sharecroppers).
This indicates that 'Operation' labels are also applied to development/uplift measures, so one should investigate if Madad is a government social program rather than a pure military operation.
'Operation Blue Star' shows 'Operation' used for internal security/military action ordered by political leadership, highlighting diverse uses of the term.
Compare whether Madad was ordered under defence/military command or civilian relief authorities to narrow whether it aims at local uplift or military objectives.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. This is a static fact within the 'Internal Security' domain, frequently mentioned in news regarding J&K integration.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: GS-3 Internal Security > Linkages between development and spread of extremism > Role of Security Forces in border management.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Benevolent Operations' list: Op Maitri (Nepal Quake), Op Dost (Turkey Quake), Op Ganga (Ukraine Evac), Op Kaveri (Sudan Evac), Op Devi Shakti (Afghan Evac), Op Ajay (Israel Evac), Op Sankalp (Maritime Security), Op Samudra Setu (Navy/Oxygen).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not treat 'Operations' as random trivia. Classify them into 3 buckets: 1) Combat (e.g., Meghdoot), 2) HADR/Evacuation (e.g., Maitri, Ganga), 3) Civic Action/Soft Power (e.g., Sadbhavana). UPSC focuses heavily on buckets 2 and 3.
Indian 'Operation' names are used for combat/security missions (e.g., Meghdoot, Safed Sagar, Blue Star) as well as non-military efforts (e.g., Maitri, Barga).
High-yield for UPSC because it prevents category errors when interpreting operation names across defence, disaster relief, and governance. Connects defence studies with disaster management and public policy; useful for questions asking to classify or compare state actions labeled as 'operations'.
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Kargil War > p. 755
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Government of Nepal's Preparedness > p. 29
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > India's Man in Space > p. 715
Some operations deploy armed forces or government machinery for disaster relief (humanitarian assistance), while others are combat/security actions.
Important for mains and ethics answers on civil-military roles, disaster response, and use of force domestically and internationally. Helps answer questions on when and why the military is used for non-combat roles and policy implications.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Government of Nepal's Preparedness > p. 29
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > India's Man in Space > p. 715
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Punjab Turmoil and Operation Blue Star > p. 718
Governments sometimes label major policy drives as 'Operation' (e.g., Operation Barga was a land reform to protect sharecroppers).
Useful for polity and economy sections; links agrarian reform, rural welfare, and state initiative branding. Enables comparison-type questions and answers on policy design, implementation, and outcomes.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 10: Land Reforms in India > Land Reforms in West Bengal: > p. 344
Operation Maitri was initiated by the Indian Prime Minister to provide rescue and relief assistance to Nepal after a major disaster.
High-yield for UPSC because it links disaster management, India–Nepal bilateral responses, and humanitarian diplomacy. Understanding the nature and initiation of such missions helps answer questions on civil–military roles in disaster relief and India's regional foreign policy.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Government of Nepal's Preparedness > p. 29
Immediate relief priorities include blankets, food, water, medicines, medical personnel and helicopters.
Essential for questions on disaster preparedness and response strategy, logistics and resource prioritisation; connects to NDRF, health infrastructure and emergency logistics topics frequently tested in governance and geography sections.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Government of Nepal's Preparedness > p. 29
Villages near the epicentre can be cut off by landslides, making remote-rural access difficult during relief operations.
Useful for answering questions on terrain challenges, relief logistics, infrastructure resilience and regional planning; links geography (landslide risk, topography) with public administration and disaster mitigation policy.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Government of Nepal's Preparedness > p. 29
Operations in India can be combat missions, internal-security actions, humanitarian relief, or administrative reforms; identifying the objective is essential before assigning a purpose like uplifting local populations.
High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask about the nature and objectives of named operations and their governance/security implications. Mastering this helps connect defence topics with disaster management, internal security and public administration, and enables elimination-style reasoning in prelims and structured answers in mains.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Government of Nepal's Preparedness > p. 29
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > India's Man in Space > p. 715
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Punjab Turmoil and Operation Blue Star > p. 718
Operation Samaritan. While Sadbhavana is focused on J&K/Ladakh, 'Operation Samaritan' is the analogous Civic Action Programme often associated with the North East or specific disaster relief contexts by the Army.
Etymological decoding: 'Madad' means Help (implies immediate crisis/disaster relief). 'Maitri' means Friendship (implies bilateral/foreign nation). 'Sankalp' means Resolution (implies strategic resolve/protection). 'Sadbhavana' means Goodwill/Harmony. 'Upliftment of local population' is a long-term goodwill building exercise, not an emergency rescue. Hence, Sadbhavana fits best.
Connects to GS-4 (Ethics) and GS-3 (Security): The concept of 'WHAM' (Winning Hearts and Minds). Using soft power (schools, tours, medical camps) to counter insurgency is a key ethical and strategic topic in Civil-Military relations.