UPSC Mains 2020 GS3 Q19 — Internal security
What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in Eastern part of India? What strategy should Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Whatshould
- Scope keywords
- determinants of left-wing extremismEastern part of IndiaGovernment of Indiacivil administrationsecurity forcescounter the threat
- Implicit sub-parts
- The specific geographical and socio-economic unique factors of the Eastern states (Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal) that fuel Naxalism.
- Critical evaluation of the 'Samadhan' strategy and 'Greyhounds' model as templates for future action.
- The distinction between hard security interventions and soft developmental/civil administrative measures.
- The role of local community engagement and 'winning hearts and minds' as a counter-insurgency pillar.
- Common pitfalls
- Treating LWE as a generic pan-India issue without mentioning state-specific geography like the Abujhmad forest or the Dandakaranya region.
- Failing to differentiate between the roles of Security Forces (combat/intelligence) and Civil Administration (PDS/Forest Rights Act/Education).
- Over-emphasizing historical origins (Naxalbari 1967) instead of focusing on current determinants like mining displacement and tribal alienation.
- Ignoring the 'Red Corridor' shrinkage and failing to suggest proactive rather than just reactive measures.
- Dimensions required
- Socio-Economic (Land alienation, poverty)Geographical (Terrain, forest cover)Governance (Administrative vacuum, lack of public services)Security (Counter-insurgency tactics, intelligence sharing)Developmental (Infrastructure, connectivity, livelihood)
- Marks allocation hint
Dedicate approximately 100 words to the 'determinants,' ensuring you link tribal displacement and forest rights specifically to the Eastern region. The remaining 150 words must be strictly divided among the three requested actors: GoI (policy/funding), Civil Admin (trust-building/services), and Security Forces (tactical operations), ending with a forward-looking conclusion on holistic integration.
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