Internal Security

An Initiative of MADE EASY Group
INTERVIEW GUIDANCE PROGRAMME

CSE-2017
Internal Security
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CONTENTS
1. Maoist Incidents Fewer in 2017 ................................................................................. 1
2. ‘Samadhan’ for Naxal Violence ................................................................................. 1
3. Armed Forces Reform ................................................................................................. 5
4. Parliamentary Committee Report on Military Modernisation ............................. 6
5. Indian Air Force: Declining Squadron Strength ..................................................... 6
6. Joint Military Exercises (JME) .................................................................................... 8
7. Strategic Partnership Policy ....................................................................................... 9
8. Private Sector in Defence .......................................................................................... 10
9. Make in India in Defense .......................................................................................... 11
10. Army Being used for Civilian Purposes ................................................................. 13
11. INS Kalvari ................................................................................................................. 14
12. Brahmos Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) ................................................... 16
13. Joint Doctrine Indian Armed Forces ....................................................................... 18
14. Women in Combat Role............................................................................................ 19
15. Women in Territorial Army ..................................................................................... 22
16. Drug Menace in Punjab ............................................................................................ 23
17. Islamic State in Decline ............................................................................................. 25
18. Lone Wolf Attacks ..................................................................................................... 26
19. Police Reform ............................................................................................................. 27
20. Shortage of Cops ........................................................................................................ 28
21. Dineshwar Sharma Appointed as a Special ‘Representative’ (SR)..................... 29
22. Zojila Tunnel .............................................................................................................. 31
23. Cross-LOC Trade ....................................................................................................... 32
24. Article 35A .................................................................................................................. 33
25. Attacks on Army Installation ................................................................................... 34
26. Crimes in India-2016 ................................................................................................. 35
27. Wannacry .................................................................................................................... 36
28. Data Protection Framework for India..................................................................... 37
29. Cattle Smuggling along India-Bangladesh Border ............................................... 40
30. Indo-China Border Roads ......................................................................................... 42
31. Indo-Myanmar Land Border Crossing ................................................................... 43
32. Killing of Security Forces by Mobs ......................................................................... 43
33. Challenges in Dealing with Violent Civil Protests in India ................................. 44
34. Pellet Guns .................................................................................................................. 47
35. Gorkhaland Agitation ............................................................................................... 49
36. Chakmas and Hajongs: Citizenship Debate .......................................................... 50
37. North East Connectivity: Nagaland Declaration .................................................. 51
38. Inner Line Permit ....................................................................................................... 52
39. Day Light Saving ....................................................................................................... 52
40. AFSPA ......................................................................................................................... 54
41. Ethics of Armed Drones ........................................................................................... 54
Internal Security [1]

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MAOIST INCIDENTS FEWER IN 2017

For the first time in more than a decade, in 2017 the incidents in left-wing extremism
(LWE) affected States remained below the 1,000 mark.
Present status:
 According to Home Ministry data, 851 incidents were reported till December 15 in 2017.
 The total number of incidents in 2016 was 1048.
 The violent incidents in the 10 LWE-affected States have always been above the 1,000 mark,
with 2,258 the maximum number of incidents reported in 2009.
Probable Reasons for decline:
 Top Maoist leadership was ageing and many suffered from ailments.
 Low recruitment as Youths are no more interested to join the Maoists
 Security forces had penetrated many territories. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been
deployed for anti-Maoist operations apart from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
 The other reason could be strategic: “deliberately lying low”
 Several instances of top Maoist leadership siphoning away with money and running extortion
rackets have also attributed to their decline.
SAMADHAN
‘SAMADHAN’ FOR NAXAL VIOLENCE

In May 2017, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced a new strategy against the
Maoists—SAMADHAN
The Minister explained the acronym as:
 “S” for Smart leadership;

 “A” for Aggressive Strategy;
 “M” for motivation and training;

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 “A” for actionable intelligence;

 “D” for dashboard-based KPIs (key performance indicators) and KRAs (key result areas);
 “H” for harnessing technology;
 “A” for Action plan for each theatre and
 “N” for no access to financing.
OVERVIEW OF NAXALISM
BRIEF TIMELINE
 The Naxal or Maoist conflict in India erupted in the 1967 violent peasant protests in the
Naxalbari district of West Bengal.
 The movement simmered during that time, and had its ebb and flow, but a strong state
response managed to curtail the movement in the late 1960s and 1970s.
 It revived in the mid-1980s and is at present identified by top Indian policymakers as the
gravest internal security threat to India, surpassing the externally funded terrorist movements
in Kashmir and the North-eastern insurgencies in overall impact.
OBJECTIVE
 The Naxalites state their main political purpose as establishing an alternative state structure in
India by creating a “red corridor” in Naxalite-affected states, stretching from the border of
Nepal to central India to Karnataka in the south through violent struggle.
 To achieve this political objective, which requires local support, Naxalite rebel leaders take up
causes like protecting people’s rights of Jal, Jangal and Jamin (water, forest, and land) and
providing justice through their committees like the Sangam and Jan Adalat (people’s court).
AFFECTED AREAS
 Naxalism has spread to 17 states in India, including Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odissa, Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal, to name the few main ones, affecting nearly 185 out of 602 districts.
 With established base areas in Dantewada and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh, the movement
has shown no signs of abating there.
 Reports indicate that Naxal armed underground cadres number around 15,000 men and
women, with 12, 000 firearms, and an unarmed cadre strength of nearly 200,000.
 Nearly 60 per cent of the armed contingent of the Naxalites is in Northern Chhattisgarh and
Jharkhand.
DEVELOPMENTAL RELATED CAUSES FOR SPREAD OF LEFT EXTREMISM
 Barring a phase in the late 1960s and early 1970s’ the left extremist movement has been
largely agrarian in the sense that it seeks to mobilize discontent and misgovernance in the
rural areas to achieve its objectives.
 It creates conditions for non-functioning of the government and actively seeks disruption of
development activities as a means to achieve its objective of ‘wresting control’.
(a) Land Related Factors
• Evasion of land ceiling laws.
• Existence of special land tenures (enjoying exemptions under ceiling laws).
• Encroachment and occupation of Government and Community lands (even the water-bodies)
by powerful sections of society.
• Lack of title to public land cultivated by the landless poor.
• Poor implementation of laws prohibiting transfer of tribal land to non-tribals in the Fifth
Schedule areas.
• Non-regularisation of traditional land rights.
(b) Displacement and Forced Evictions
• Eviction from lands traditionally used by tribals.
[2] Internal Security

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• Displacements caused by irrigation and power projects without adequate arrangements for
rehabilitation.
• Large scale land acquisition for ‘public purposes’ without appropriate compensation or
rehabilitation.
(c) Livelihood Related Causes
• Lack of food security – corruption in the Public Distribution System (which are often non-
functional).
• Disruption of traditional occupations and lack of alternative work opportunities.
• Deprivation of traditional rights in common property resources.
(d) Social Exclusion
• Denial of dignity.
• Continued practice, in some areas, of untouchability in various forms.
• Poor implementation of special laws on prevention of atrocities, protection of civil rights and
abolition of bonded labour etc.
(e) Governance Related Factors
• Corruption and poor provision/non-provision of essential public services including primary
health care and education.
• Incompetent, ill trained and poorly motivated public personnel who are mostly absent from
their place of posting.
• Misuse of powers by the police and violations of the norms of law.
• Perversion of electoral politics and unsatisfactory working of local government institutions.
It may be highlighted again that these causes are most glaring in forest areas predominantly
inhabited by tribal populations who thus become the main instruments and victims of left
extremist violence.
COUNTER – INSUREGENCY STRATEGY
Follow a path of ballot instead of path of bullet
1) Leadership:
The difference between a crowd and organised discipline unit is ‘leadership’.
History is replete with the examples that wars are won and lost not by fighters but by the
leaders.
1. Competent leaders: In the words of sun tzu, “Great results can be achieved with small forces
provided those leading them are skilled at war.” Thus we should ensure that our forces are led
by leaders of due competence.
2. Sweat and train together: Even low intensity conflicts are not won by remote control
leadership, rather won only when the leaders are right up there with the men. Leaders should
“sweat together to bleed together” and “train together to fight together.”
3. Lead by example: Leaders should lead by personal examples. If the leaders do not expose
themselves to the danger how can they expect men to expose themselves to conflict
situations?
4. Outsider leaders: In addition, CRPF on ground is led by Inspectors and Sub Inspectors. If a
man who is not trained to fight a war is made a commander of the premier counter-
insurgency force, then it is a recipe for disaster.
5. Responsibility and accountability: Responsibility and accountability are important. Unskilled
leaders should be removed.
2) Dealing with Guerrilla warfare:
1. Fight with strategy: T.E. Lawrence. Said, “Guerrilla warfare is more scientific than a bayonet
charge.” Mao said, “Those who fight without method do not understand the nature of
guerrilla warfare.” Thus fight with appropriate method and planning.
2. Key elements of strategy: This strategy should have key elements of (a) Flexibility &
Unpredictability, (b) Surprise, mobility and swift action (c) Deception.
3. Over-reliance on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):

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a. Over-reliance on SOPs leads to predicted routine and make forces less innovative.
SOPs are broad guidelines and often become redundant after a period of time.
b. Thus the response of the security personnel should be flexible.
4. Drift like water and evaporate like gas:
a. Counterinsurgency force should drift like water and evaporate like gas.
b. That means being mobile, and able to hit the hub centres of the insurgents with a
lightning blow with surprise and then vanish.
c. This will create fear psychosis and uncertainty in the minds of the guerrilla.
3) Knowledge of terrain:
 Maoists are successful in their ambushes because of their deep understanding of the terrain,
knowledge of where the security forces are. They use terrain effectively to maintain surprise
 Leaders should train the forces in reading the terrain to read where the danger lies and where
the opportunities exist.
 Genghis Khan, Alexander exploited and Mao, all employed geography as a weapon to defeat
his rivals.
4) Organization and unity of command:
 In CAPF’s men are distributed arbitrarily by a Deputy Collector or a Superintendent of Police
of a district who has little idea as to how a tactical unit operates.
 This leads to dilution of cohesion of the force.
 The principle of unity of command is must and cohesion of unit should be maintained at all
cost.
5) Division of Labour: Create specialisation and develop core teams to excel.
 If you expect the CRPF to rush from election duty to law and order to counter-insurgency
operations, it is simply a misapplication of the force.
 Thus the counter-insurgency units should be separated from the rest of the force. There
should be a clear distinction between counter-insurgency force and law and order units.
Training of men and officers should be separate for both these forces since the mandate is
different.
 It will build expertise and excellence. This is what the principle of division of labour says.
6) Intelligence:
 It is easy to blame the CRPF but the root of the problem lies in poor intelligence.
 This is the reason for our CRPF personnel getting killed on a regular basis. Thus this should be
corrected.
7) Reconciliation:
 Conflicts are rarely resolved or terminated by use of force. The ultimate objective of the use
of force is reconciliation and surrender.
 Thus administration should involve NGOs and citizen committees for reconciliation.
8) Good governance and socio-economic development (to remove conditions conducive to rise
of LWE)
 WE should have administration at all levels i.e. panchayat, block, district and state level
 This administration should be accountable, corruption-free and responsive.
 For this regular social audit should be carried out.
 Administration should solve the grievances of the people and ensure socio-economic
development (by undertaking Land Reforms, proper implementation of forest rights etc.,
development of markets where tribal can sell their agriculture produce, development of
roads, communication, health, education) so that they don’t fall into their propaganda.

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ARMED FORCES REFORM

In 2017, Defence ministry approved the first phase of reforms in The Armed Forces.
Background: Shekatkar committee:
 The Ministry of Defence had constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Lt Gen (Retd)
(Dr.) DB Shekatkar.
 Its mandate was to recommend measures for enhancing of Combat Capability & Rebalancing
Defence Expenditure of the Armed Forces.
 It submitted its report in December, 2016.
 It made 188 recommendations which have been studied and debated by the ministry and the
defence services.
 Out of these, the defence ministry has chosen 99 recommendations which pertain to the army,
navy and air force — 65 of them, which are internal to the army, have been approved for
implementation in this phase. These reforms will be completed in all respects by 31 December
2019.
 The other 34, which are internal to the air force and the navy, will also be implemented soon.
List of major reforms:
Key idea is to improve the army’s “teeth to tail” ratio, i.e. increase the number of soldiers actually
doing the fighting against those needed to support them to fight. Under the first phase of reforms,
57,000 officers/JCOs/ORs and civilians will be redeployed into fighting roles, thereby improving its
operational efficiency.
This will be achieved by:
 Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.

 Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.
 Closure of Military Farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations.
 Optimisation of Signals Establishments.
 Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include Base Workshops.
 Redeployment of Ordnance depots
 Better utilization of Supply & Transport echelons and Animal Transport units.
Comment:
 The first steps to restructure army are welcome.

 But the ministry is silent on rest of the recommendations of the committee, which deal with
higher defence management, defence ministry and other organisations, such as the DRDO,
ordnance factories and DGQA.
 Earlier also, the toughest recommendations of Arun Singh Committee, following the Kargil
Review Commission, and of the Naresh Chandra Committee were ignored. (They made
recommendations related to establishing a Chief of Defence Staff or for ensuring 2.5-3 per cent of
GDP as defence expenditure).
 With a live threat from both China and Pakistan, defence reforms are an urgent need of the
hour.
 Thus the first steps with restructuring the army should be quickly followed by implementation of
other recommendations, particularly those of higher defence management. Anything less will be
another opportunity lost.

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PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORT ON MILITARY

MODERNISATION
A parliamentary committee has slammed the government for not doing enough to
ensure military modernisation.
About:
 On December 19, 2017, the parliamentary standing committee on defence chaired by Major
General B C Khanduri (retd), tabled two reports in Parliament.
Critical Military Operational Gaps
 It observed that there are critical operational deficiencies on several fronts, ranging from
submarines, fighter jets, etc. to even basic gear like new-generation assault rifles, machine guns,
bullet-proof jackets and helmets.
 Indian Air Force (IAF): For instance, at least 45 fighter squadrons (18-21 jets in each), are
required by the IAF to tackle the two-front scenario. But as of now it is managing with just 33
squadrons, which will go down to 19 by 2027, and 16 by 2032 due to retirement of older jets.
 Navy: The Navy is managing with just 13 conventional diesel-electric submarines. Out of these
only half are operational at any given time since they are 17 to 32 years old (apart from the
newly-commissioned INS Kalvari.
Reasons:
 Poor allocation of funds:

o Armed forces hardly got any funds to undertake any concrete modernization in the
2017-18 budget.
o With the Rs 2.74 lakh crore defence outlay working out to just 1.56% of the projected
GDP, it is the lowest such figure since the 1962 war with China.
o Indian Army, Navy and IAF just got only 60%, 67% and 54% of the funds they had sought
for modernisation this fiscal.
 Underutilisation of funds:
o To make matters worse, there is Underutilization of funds which highlights the loopholes
in the planning by the defence ministry (MoD).
 Procurement:
o Government is also not fast-tracking defence procurements to plug operational gaps.
o Due to improper planning, defence ministry is not even spending the allocated funds.
INDIAN AIR FORCE: DECLINING SQUADRON STRENGTH

At a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence on 27 October 2017,
senior officers of the Indian Air Force were rebuked by Defence Minister for “inappropriate
responses” to the issue of declining squadron strength.
The Current Situation
 The Indian Air Force has an effective strength of 31 combat squadrons, although it has 34
combat squadrons in total (the three remaining MiG-21 and MiG-27 squadrons being discarded).

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Target:
 To meet the contingencies of a two-front war the IAF desires a strength of some 42 combat
squadrons by the period 2027-32.
The Challenge
 Thus there is an immediate requirement for 11 more to meet the target.

 As of October 2017, 3 more Su-30MKI and 2 Dassault Rafale squadrons are on order, with 2
squadrons of Tejas MK. fighters supplementing them. All this will add some seven squadrons to
the IAF.
 However, seven squadrons (six MiG and one Jaguar) will be phased out by 2027. If no new
aircraft are ordered, then IAF would be left with 29 combat squadrons by 2027 – an overall
deficiency of 13 squadrons.
Steps being taken:
To bolster force levels, following steps are being taken, all of which are currently at some stage of
realization:
 Procurement of new single and twin-engine fighters, with the latter taking priority.
 Procurement of four squadrons of the Tejas Mk.1A variant.
 Planning to procure an additional five squadrons of Rafales.
Reasons for being worried:
 Lack of urgency: Thus IAF is, not without options, What is lacking is a sense of urgency on the
part of all the parties concerned. Steps are being pursued in a half-hearted manner, which is not
attributable to lack of budgetary support.
 For Tejas: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has not yet been able to meet the target of
eight aircraft per year, much less an enhanced production target of 16 aircraft per year.
 Slow progress of SP programme: Nearly a year has elapsed since the Strategic Partnership
programme was announced by the then Defence Minister without any tangible progress being
made.
Recommendations:
To meet its targeted strength by 2027, following needs to be done:
 Focus on Tejas:
o Full support for the Tejas Mk.1A project has to be forthcoming on the part of all
stakeholders – Government, ADA, HAL and IAF.

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o HAL’s lackadaisical approach to the production of Tejas Mk.1 has to end.

 Focus on Rafale:
o Forego the selection of a new twin-engine fighter under a “Make in India” initiative.
o Instead prioritize the induction of additional Rafale aircraft beyond the existing 36
(subject to the price and technology transfer package being satisfactory).
o A separate twin-engine project, unless there are severe problems with the Rafale, is a
time-consuming luxury with little benefit to India.
 Revive SP Programme:
o Initiate the procurement of a single-engine type through the Strategic Partnership route
and complete it in a time-bound manner so that the IAF can reap the benefits of this
programme.
JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES (JME)

The Malabar Exercise 2017 was conducted in July 2017 in the Bay of Bengal. This was the
21st edition of Malabar exercise.
ABOUT MALABAR EXERCISE:
● It is a trilateral naval exercise involving the United States, Japan Other Major Naval
Exercises conducted by
and India as permanent partners. In the past, Australia and
India with:
Singapore have participated as non-permanent participants.
● Background: It began in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise Sri Lanka (SLINEX)
between India and the U.S. With the inclusion of Japan in 2015,
Singapore (SIMBEX)
it was expanded into a trilateral format.
Though the Indian Navy has been carrying out exercises with various Australia (AUSINDEX)
countries, the Malabar exercise has always generated a higher level France (VARUNA)
of interest attention among the stakeholders in this region due to
involvement of global powers. United Kingdom
(KONKAN)
SIGNIFICANCE OF JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES (JME): South Africa and Brazil
(ISAMBAR)
1) Operational significance:
JEM enable militaries to share best practises, evolve standard operating procedures (SOPs),
overcome language barriers and facilitate familiarisation with equipment capabilities. All these are
important for Conducting joint operations to
● Deal with the challenges of piracy, maritime terrorism, organised crime (drug trafficking,
weapons smuggling) which is a major concern in the geo-strategic Indo-Pacific region.
● Conduct operations other than war (OOTW) i.e. humanitarian aid, disaster relief etc. as done by
militaries of various nations during the tsunami in South East Asia.
Apart from this it also enables on-the-job training.
2) Diplomatic significance:
● Military diplomacy has emerged as a major tool to further diplomatic interests of nations.
● It is a key confidence building measure (CBM) and is an indication of the highest level of trust
between the member nations.

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● Joint exercises also serve the purpose of “STRATEGIC SIGNALLING” to a third country of the
influence they have in the region.
3) Commercial significance:
● Efficacy of hi-tech equipment deployed in these exercises is keenly watched, which sometimes
also leads to subsequent procurement deals thereby further boosting inter-operability and
integration.
● E.g. India procured the Poseidon Eight India (P8I) long range maritime patrol aircraft from U.S.
after spotting it during one of these exercises.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP POLICY

Recently, Defense ministry unveiled the Strategic Partnership (SP) policy.
Its objective is to reduce current dependence on

imports and to increase defence manufacturing DEFENCE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE (DPP)-
in India through indigenous private defines firms. 2016 POLICY
This policy will be a part of the Defence Its objective is to simplify defence procurement
Procurement Procedure, 2016, that was released procedure to give a boost to “Make in India”
in March 2016. initiative. This objective will be achieved by
promoting indigenous design, development and
Salient features of SP policy are: manufacturing of defence equipment, platforms,
systems and sub-systems.
● The model will initially be applicable in four
segments: Submarines, Helicopters, Fighter It introduces a new category of procurement
‘Buy {Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed,
Aircraft and Armored fighting vehicles
Developed and Manufactured)}’ which has been
(AFV)/Main Battle Tanks (MBT). accorded top most priority for procurement of
● Only one Strategic Partner will be selected capital equipment.
per segment having 51% ownership.
● SP will be selected based on the ability of the Preference has been accorded to ‘Buy (Indian)’
and ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ categories of capital
vendor to emerge as a systems integrator acquisition over ‘Buy (Global)’ & ‘Buy & Make
and to set up a vendor network for sourcing. (Global)’ categories.
● The chosen SP will enter into tie-ups with
foreign original equipment manufacturers Requirement of Indigenous content has been
enhanced / rationalised for various categories of
(OEM).
capital acquisition.
● The SP and OEM will jointly supply the
required platforms to the armed forces. The ‘Make’ Procedure has been simplified with
● To ensure ‘Make in India’, only a minimum provisions for funding of 90 % of development
number of platforms (not exceeding 10-15 cost by the government to Indian industry and
reserving projects not exceeding development
per cent of the number of units being cost of Rs. 10 crore (government funded) and Rs.
procured) can be manufactured in the OEM’s 3 crore (industry funded) for MSMEs.
premises.
Perceived benefits: According to Dhirendra Singh Committee, which suggested this policy in 2015,
there are various benefits of this policy:
● It provides opportunity to private sector to participate in some big ticket contracts – estimated
to be worth over two lakh crore rupees which were till now reserved for the Defense PSUs and
OFs (Ordinance Factory).

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● It can play a key role in bridging the long-standing trust gap between the Indian private sector
and Ministry of Defence (which is perceived to be friendlier toward public sector entities).
● It is expected that due to entry of private sector, there will be development of competitiveness
and expertise to compete to win future contracts which can contribute to laying a strong
foundation for developing India’s military industrial complex.
Concerns: There are two key concerns which need to be addressed to make SPs contribute in a
meaningful and time-bound manner.
● First concern is the lack of institutional capacity (structures and decision-making process) to
guide the new process to its logical conclusion.
● Second, public sector entities continue to enjoy privilege position in spite of promise by defense
ministry to provide a level-playing field to private sector while awarding contracts. All this puts a
question mark regarding the long-term viability of SPs.
Because of these shortcoming, in the past ‘Make’ and ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ procedures had failed
to yield the desired results. It is hoped that this time the government addresses these concerns to
achieve the target of ‘Make in India’ in defense.
PRIVATE SECTOR IN DEFENCE

According to experts, government’s policy to boost private sector participation in the
defense sector is unlikely to bring in constructive contracts.
NEED OF PRIVATE SECTOR IN DEFENCE:
● Defence is a capital intensive industry. In the coming decade, India’s defence sector requires
$130-150 billion for modernisation to become self-reliant. Apart from this we are witnessing
stagnating growth of defence PSUs and huge import bills.
● All this calls for private sector participation in defence production sector.
● The defence sector was opened to one hundred per cent participation by the Indian private
sector in 2001. But it still continues to play a peripheral role in defence manufacturing.
BARRIER FOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN DEFENCE:
● Inability of Defence Ministry to evolve a workable system for engaging with them as prime
contractors, under the ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ category, or to nominate them as the Indian
Production Agency in ‘Buy and Make’ case”.
● Need of multiple approvals, bureaucratic delays and superfluous restrictions.
● High Risk on returns due to irregular grant of orders, lack of economies of scale of small orders in
production and long gestation periods.
● Lack of a level playing field vis-a-vis the public sector due to vast infrastructure and technology
collaborations facilitated by the government.
● Some corporates with defence licences lack the technological experience of a hi-tech original
equipment manufacturer (OEM) which could put many a project at risk.
WAY AHEAD:
To correct this, Strategic partnership scheme has been unveiled which appears to be an effort to
overcome this problem but more needs to be one, such as:

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● FDI liberalisation: There is a need to liberalise FDI with checks and balances in place to regulate
the environment and end use of the outputs. This will boost inflow of technology, fund and
technical know-how.
● Simplification of policy: All the policies should be harmonised to work towards a single window
clearance mechanism with predetermined timelines so that the set up and operational time
frame is reduced.
● Tax incentives: Give defence sector an infrastructure status; Cut down the duties on import of
capital equipment; have a policy whereby defence manufacturer could enjoy 100 per cent of
profits for a stipulated number of years.
● Ensure a level playing field to private sector by providing them regular orders, establishing a
fund to help them bear the risk on returns etc.
MAKE IN INDIA IN DEFENSE

About:
 Defense is one of the 25 sectors under make in India program. Speaking at Aero India 2015 PM
stressed that defense manufacturing was at the “heart of the ‘Make in India’ program.
 Under this, govt. wants foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Boeing,
Airbus, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems to setup manufacturing facilities in India to boost up
defense manufacturing.
But why does govt. wants that?
 We have DRDO and various defense PSUs but inspite of this our production is insufficient to face
the 2 border war. We are facing huge short-fall offighter jets, helicopters, submarines, thus
affecting national security.
 Now to meet this shortfall we import. India is totally dependent on the West for critical
equipment and thus leading to drain of forex, rising CAD. We import 60% of our military items.
 Shortage of funds – Govt. had to think multiple times to implement OROP which will cost govt.
8,000 crore per annum.
 Will expose our domestic companies to competition; efficiency will increase.
 Will make India from importer to exporter. (ISRO is launching satellites for other countries)
 Some 1,00,000–1,20,000 skilled jobs could be created.
Challenges:
1. According to critics, this ‘make’ clause is not new, it’s there since 2001. Defense Procurement
Policy, 2013 gives preferential treatment to ‘Buy (Indian)’ and ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ categories
of acquisition over ‘Buy (Global)’. But hasn’t yielded result.
2. State monopolies: Contracts still going to state entities on a nomination basis under the garb of
‘national security’, as if DRDO and DPSU employees are the sole custodian of integrity and
patriotism. Private sector share is very less.
3. Countries generally only want to see India as an importer, instead of partner because:
a. FDI is still at 49% only, so they won’t have the majority stay, so why should they invest?
b. Will lead to sharing of crucial technologies; Loss of employment in their country;
c. Will lose a huge market in the form of India which in future will emerge a competition in
exporting of domestic equipment’s.

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4. Pre-requisites in the form of basic physical and social infrastructure is lagging (labs are not
advances and facing shortage of manpower, small and medium industry suppliers are falling
short on facilities, quality and time lines)
5. Governance side reasons
a. Our defense production (2011) and procurement policy (2013) needs to be updated in
line of these developments and to bring in more clarity. Clarity is required as regards the
role expected to be played by the big players, the SMEs and the public sector, apart from
the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) and how these roles would
be synergized.
b. Poor ease of doing business: following are the Views of CAG (may 2015) on delay in LCA
Tejas – The IAF had issued Air Staff Requirements (ASR) in 1985 for a light-weight multi-
mission fighter aircraft to be inducted in 1994 to replace the MiG-21s in service. But LCA
achieved initial operational clearance only by December 2013 and final operational
clearance is expected only by 2018-end.
c. risk averse attitude in procurement due to the ghost of bofors and Augusta westland
scam still hanging;
d. Defense ministry manned by generalist babus instead of professional having who can’t
distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer
6. Given the nature of the defense sector and its “national security” dimension, we need a
stringent regulatory regime, not a weak one. But private players will like to avoid it as
summarized by Anil Ambani in February 2015 in his comment that the “long shadow” of the
three Cs—CBI, CVC and CAG should be replaced by two new Cs—“courage and conviction”
Way forward: Focus on both public and private sector
1. Public sector:
a. There are PSUs that have been doing well (such as in the space and shipbuilding sectors).
So don’t make a sweeping a generalizations about PSUs
b. Do performance audit of DRDO and labs and ordinance factories
c. The top 5-10 labs and factories may be retained, while the rest should be privatized or
shut down if there are no takers.
d. End monopolies, Every R&D project and manufacturing contract should be bid out, with
nothing going to state entities on a nomination basis.
e. Allocate at least 10% of the defense budget to R&D.
2. Private sector:
a. Create 4-5 world-class defense and aerospace manufacturing hubs. Provide 10-year tax
holidays.
b. Establish a Defense Industry Promotion Fund (DIPF) for seed-funding of MSMEs.
c. FDI needs to be raised to at least 74% to enable real high-tech investments.
d. Strengthen bargaining: Instead of ordering equipment’s on a piecemeal basis, china
consolidated its future requirements and used it as a bargaining chip that we will give
you the order only if you establish assembly lines here. That’s how they convinced
Airbus to establish an A320 assembly plant in Tianjin.
e. Improve ease of doing business
f. Should market the fact that in the next 7-8 years, we would be investing more than US$
130 billion in modernization of our armed forces
Steps taken in this direction

 FDI increase to 49%

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 Almost 60% items required for industrial license have now been de-reserved.
 Steps have been taken for simplification of rules and procedures to promote private
participation.
 Bringing parity among government and private manufacturers by withdrawing excise and
customs duty exemptions available to private players
ARMY BEING USED FOR CIVILIAN PURPOSES

Maharashtra Government announced that the Indian Army’s engineering wing will design
and build new foot overbridges at Elphinstone Road and two other train stations by 2018.
About:
 This is not the first time that army is being used for civilian purposes, in the past also army has
be used for non-military purposes including natural disasters rescue and relief, civilian and
infrastructural works, maintenance of law and order when the state police has failed to do so.
 Some of the recent examples are, in 2016, army engineers were asked to make a pontoon bridge
in the Yamuna flood plains for a mega event of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In 2010, when a foot-bridge
fell days before the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the army engineers came in to erect a
bridge in double-quick time. The army also makes pontoon bridges during the Kumbh mela, and
to restore communication in inaccessible areas after natural disasters.
Positive effects
 When compared to civilian institutions, they are efficient and works under extreme conditions
for which civil institutions are not trained. Further they accomplish the task in a time bound
manner, with sense of accountability and transparency.
 When there is no imminent war like situation, the large pool of human resources can be used
with much lesser costs.
 Army is better equipped with skills, expertise and technology to work in emergency situations
like floods, earthquakes and building border infrastructure.
Criticism
 But there has been severe criticism from opposition, army veterans and observers. That it is not
a far-flung area where civilian agencies are unavailable and Railways have the technical expertise
and funds for constructing such a bridge. Further, this is a permanent infrastructure while the
army is employed to make bridges which are needed temporarily.
 The Army’s primary task is to protect the nation from external aggression and train for war
during peace, calling upon the army for routine civilian works like building bridges and as first
responders of law and order situation can lead to politicization of army and distracts them from
their primary task.
 It leads to diverting critical defence resources to civilian works; the Army is regularly used to
help out in emergency situations such as floods and earthquakes. It is even engaged in
infrastructural development in sensitive areas, such as the north-east. If it is now burdened with
the additional task of helping out in other civilian tasks will further impact its resources.
 It will also lower the morale, image and self-respect of the young Army jawans, who join the
force with a vision to secure the country’s borders and protect its people from the enemy eg.
the army was asked to clean the trash left behind by civilian tourists as part of the Swachh
Bharat campaign.
 It leads to acknowledgement of civilian institutional failure to the larger public and reinforces
the belief that only the army can provide an effective substitute for providing civil services. It can

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strengthen the belief that military rule is good. This could erode the delicate balance between
civil-military relations.
 As the armed forces seem to be doing nothing urgent when no fighting is on, it is tempting to
employ them in other routine duties. But this violates a fundamental premise of a modern
military that during peace-time, it must be left free to prepare for war. Or as the armed forces
put it, “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war”.
 Army has an expertise to build temporary structure meant for emergency situations like CWG
Bridge, Yamuna Pontoon Bridge. Thus, engagement in long term infrastructure projects is not its
domain expertise.
 Former Army personnel like Lt.General H.S.Panag and Naval officer Vikram Karve are of opinion
that using army for civilian purposes shows that the state has abdicated its responsibility as
primary civil and infrastructure provider and points out to the failure of civilian administration.
Way forward
 An unthinking diversion of the armed forces for routine civilian tasks seems highly affordable but
has long-term costs for the country.
 Army may be called in extreme emergency situations like natural disasters, but this should not
be made as a routine. The military is an instrument of last resort.
 Instead it is better to improve the efficiency and institutional capacity of civilian administration.
INS KALVARI
On December 14, 2017, INS Submarine Kalvari was inducted into Indian Navy by PM Modi.
Project 75:
 Kalvari was built indigenously under a venture

called Project 75, at Mumbai’s Mazagon Docks.
 Under this project, the Indian Navy was
authorised to build six submarines in
collaboration with French firm DCNS at a cost of
around Rs 350 crore.
 Construction of the first submarine had started
in 2009 and the project ended way behind
schedule.
Features:
 Kalvari can carry 18 torpedoes and travel

1,020km underwater.
 The submarine can dive up to a depth of 300
metres to elude enemy detection.
 It has superior stealth and the ability to launch
crippling attacks on the enemy with precision-
guided weapons.
 The attack can be carried out with torpedoes as
well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles
underwater or from the surface.
 It is designed to operate in all theatres of war,
including the tropics. It is capable of handling

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various missions such as anti-surface warfare (attacking surface ships), anti-submarine warfare
(destroying submarines), intelligence gathering, mine-laying and area surveillance.
Nomenclature:
 Kalvari is named after the dreaded Tiger Shark, a deadly deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean.
 Kalvari was also the name of the first Indian submarine to be commissioned into the Indian Navy
in 1967. The previous Kalvari served for nearly three decades, before being decommissioned in
1996.
First of many:
 It is the first of the six indigenously-built Scorpene submarines.

 In fact, it is the first submarine that India got in 17 years; the last being INS Sindhushastra in
2000.
Other Scorpene submarines
 The second of the Scorpenes under construction, Khanderi, was launched in January 2017 and it
is currently undergoing rigorous phase of sea trials.
 The third Scorpene, Karanj, is being readied for launch later this year.
 The remaining submarines are likely to be delivered to the navy by 2020.
Comment on India’s submarine fleet
 The Indian fleet consists of Russian Kilo-class and German HDW class 209 submarines. Limited
serviceability is also an issue -- not all these boats are battle ready at any given point of time.
 India’s sub-sea warfare capability pales in front of China’s. The Communist neighbour operates
53 diesel-electric attack submarines, five nuclear attack submarines and four nuclear ballistic
missile submarines.

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BRAHMOS AIR LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE (ALCM)

In a first, air-launched Brahmos missile test-fired.
“Weapons differentiate between Air Forces and Flying Clubs”
IMPORTANCE OF INDIGENISATION:
 India’s dependence on foreign vendors for weapons and weapon platforms is well known and it
is the largest importer of weaponry.
 But importing weapons has severe limitations in terms of quantum (cost factor), quality
(technology) and sustenance (maintenance support).
 Indigenous weapons development is therefore the key to efficient and effective security.

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INDIGENOUS WEAPONS TRIALS IN LAST THREE MONTHS:
In the last three months, a number of successful indigenous weapons trials in India indicate a
positive move in the right direction:
 July 2017: Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) successfully flight tested.
 September 2017: Successful final Trial of Astra –the Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile
(BVRAAM) – against a Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) conducted.
 November 2017:
o Light weight Glide Bomb, SAAW (Smart Anti Airfield Weapon), with an effective range of
70 km tested on November 3, 2017.
o This was followed by the successful test flight of ‘NIRBHAY’, the Long Range Sub-Sonic
Cruise Missile.
o Finally, on November 22, Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully fired the BrahMos from a Su-
30 MKI fighter aircraft.
The above have been Test fired only. It will take a while, once they get fully operational. Once
operational, the armed forces will have a significant share of cutting edge weapons of indigenous
origin.
ABOUT BRAHMOS
 The BrahMos is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from
submarine, ships, aircraft, or land.
 It is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world. The missile travels at speeds of Mach 2.8
to 3.0, which is being upgraded to Mach 5.0.
 It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia and India's
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who together have formed BrahMos
Aerospace.
 The name BrahMos is formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the
Moskva of Russia.
 Current developments:
o The land-launched and ship-launched versions are already in service, with the air and
submarine-launched versions currently in the testing phase.
o A hypersonic version of the missile, BrahMos-II, is also presently under development
with a speed of Mach 7-8 to boost aerial fast strike capability. It is expected to be ready
for testing by 2020.
o In 2016, as India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR),
India and Russia are now planning to jointly develop a new generation of Brahmos
missiles with 600 km-plus range and an ability to hit protected targets with pinpoint
accuracy.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TESTING OF ALCM:
(a) Cruise missile triad:
 The IAF becomes the world’s first air force to launch a multi-platform, multi-mission, self-
propelled attack missile of this kind.
 Variants can be designed to be deployed in Rafales and advanced medium combat jets too.
 Thus BrahMos is now capable of being launched from land, sea and air, completing the tactical
cruise missile triad for India.

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(b) Enhanced Range:
 A standoff range of 300 to 400 km keeps the mother aircraft outside the lethal zone of all known
terminal defence weapons.
 If need be, the mother aircraft can go deep inside the adversary’s territory to attack the target
systems hitherto not reachable. This effectively increases the range by 25 to 30 %.
(c) Difficulty in interception:
 Carrying out attacks against targets defended by multi-layered air defence weapons systems has
risks.
 Although BrahMos itself can be intercepted, owing to its relatively smaller Radar Cross Section
(RCS) and high speed, interception is much more difficult.
(d) Geo-strategic significance:
 The missile can potentially reach Pakistani targets in the west and in Tibet in the east with 99.99
per cent accuracy.
 Development of these indigenous long range and accurate weapons in adequate quantity will
partially offset the capability deficiency resulting from the IAF’s dwindling force structure.
 Beyond the technical details, the BrahMos venture’s success signifies is the durability of India-
Russia ties.
WAY AHEAD:
(a) Enhancing accuracy:
 Three aspects of BrahMos that are still a work in progress are: extending its range, increasing its
speed to hypersonic level, and shrinking its size so that three missiles can be carried by a single
aircraft.
 While all three are steps in the right direction, the most significant change that is required is in
terms of further enhancing the missile’s accuracy which will actually reduce the number of
weapons required to achieve the desired effect.
(b) Operationalising it:
 Originally scheduled to be operational by 2012, the BrahMos ALCM is heading to become a

reality after a delay of five years. Now is the time to step on the accelerator.
 Work needs to be carried out on finalising the modification of the aircraft, the manufacture of
suitable pylons and changes in the weapon to ensure seamless compatibility and communication
between the three.
 A similar approach also needs to be followed in the case of the other indigenous weapon
systems that have been tested in recent months.
JOINT DOCTRINE INDIAN ARMED FORCES

Joint doctrine Indian armed forces was released in April 2017.
 Who prepared it? The Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff

 What does the joint doctrine proposes? The joint doctrine proposes the following:

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o Will facilitate the establishment of a broad framework for joint planning and conduct of
operations
o Proposes joint training, unified command & control
o Lists the security threats India faces, including transnational threats, proxy-war in J&K
and left-wing extremism. Radicalization of youth is a major threat.
o Stresses that surgical strikes could be a key feature in counter-terror operations from
now on.
 Significance?
o The doctrine will ensure application of military power in a “synergised manner leading to
enhanced efficiency and optimum utilisation of resources”.
o As the doctrine proposes, surgical strikes are not a one-off event (In the last two years,
the Army had carried out surgical strikes across the border with Myanmar and Line of
Control (LoC) Pakistan, targeting terrorist camps).
 The first joint military doctrine was released in 2006.
WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLE

On June 4, 2017, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat stated that Army will soon open up combat
positions for women and the matter is being taken up with the government.
ABOUT:
 As a first step in this direction, initially women will be recruited in military police. The roles of
military police include the following:
o policing the cantonments and Army establishments,
o maintaining movement of soldiers as well as logistics during peace and war,
o prevent breach of rules and regulations by soldiers,
o handling prisoners of war and
o extending aid to the civil police whenever required.
EVOLUTION AND PRESENT STATUS OF WOMEN IN ARMED FORCES:
 Historically, armed forces have employed women only as nurses/doctors.
 In 1990s Indian armed forces allowed them to serve as short commissioned officers but not as
permanent commissioned officers.
 At present women are allowed only in a number of select areas including in educational,
medical, legal, signals and engineering wings of the Army.
 They are not allowed in combat role in army and navy. Army doesn’t allows them into infatry,
artillery, navy doesn’t allow them on warships.
 Airforce in October 2015 announced that it will induct women as fighter pilots. In June 2016,
three women were commissioned as India’s first women fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force
(IAF).
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLES:
1. Gender equality: Women must get equal opportunities in the services. Women have proved
their mettle in every field. Then why shouldn’t they allowed to serve in army. It is time ‘conquer
the last male bastion’.
2. On physical nature of combat:
a. Firstly, Women can perform all physical tasks as well as men.

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b. Secondly, Physical fitness is of lesser importance in modern fighting. Nature of fighting is

changing; its more technology driven instead of hand-hand combat.
c. Then we should remember that Women doctors/nurses are already involved in combat.
Lt. Colonel Mitali Madhumita (a doctor) won a gallantry award for saving the lives of 19
people during a February 2010 terror attack on Indian embassy in Kabul.
3. Armed forces in other countries include women officers:
a. Countries such as Australia, Israel, Canada, the U.S., Britain, Germany, France, Denmark,
Finland, Norway and Sweden have allowed women in combat roles.
b. The US had deployed a large number of women soldiers for fighting wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. They played an important role in gathering intelligence from children and
women as in these areas males are not permitted to talk to women.
4. Inclusion in paramilitary forces:
a. They are included in paramilitary forces (except Assam rifles) which are also physically
demanding in nature.
b. Even BSF have an all women battalion to guard border, why not the Indian Army.
5. Women in LTTE/Naxalism: If women can fight as soldiers in LTTE and Naxalite outfits, why not in
the services
ARGUMENTS AGAINST INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLES:
1. Counter-argument to gender equality:
a. The concept of equality of sexes is unquestionable.
b. However two points need to be highlighted here.
i. First, the armed forces are constituted for national defence and there can be no
compromise on that issue.
ii. Secondly, the armed forces are not a ‘ROZGAR YOJANA’ to provide
employment to all segments of the society in equal proportion. Defence
matters cannot be treated as publicity gimmick to ‘FLAUNT SEXUAL EQUALITY’.
c. As it is a question of nation’s defence, the best man or woman should be selected for
every job. In other words, women should be inducted in the services only if they add
value to the service.
2. Counter-argument to physical nature of combat:
a. It is a biological reality that Female soldiers are on average, shorter and smaller than
men, with less upper body strength and aerobic capacity, which is essential for
endurance.
b. In the case of women officers, Indian army (and even other armed forces in the world
including U.K., U.S.) has lowered the standards to appallingly low levels while
screening them.
c. Requirement for physical prowess undoubtedly reduces as the armies advance
technologically. In a high-tech army like the US, a woman sitting in the US mainland can
effectively guide drone attacks in Afghanistan. India on the other hand is still a second
generation technology force an are even now man-power intensive.
3. Counter-argument to inclusion of women in other armed forces:
a. Countries in the Nordic regions, Canada and Australia face no internal or external threat
from their neighbours. Their militaries are generally in peacetime mode with routine
passive duties. Thus situation in India can’t be compared with these countries.

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b. Although a large number of women have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, their
employment has been confined to support functions like intelligence gathering, medical
etc. functions, not in combat duties (which can be seen by the fact that not a single
woman has lost her life in the Afghanistan in Combat duties.
4. Harassment of women officers:
a. Within forces: Also women continue to be confronted with social, behavioural and
psychological problems at all levels including high incidence of sexual harassment (of
various degrees) within the armed forces.
b. As prisoners of war: Then there is Fear of women being caught as prisoner of wars, who
will be vulnerable to sexual harassment.
5. Effect on the cohesion of units
a. Also, Junior officers, who have a patriarchal mindset wont like taking orders from a
women officer.
b. Many duties (like night duty officer) cannot be assigned to women, male officers have to
be given additional work load, which they resent.
c. There are also concerns, based on Israeli studies, that soldiers first instinct may be to
defend the women in their ranks rather than to fight the enemy.
6. Counter-argument to women fighters in LTTE and Naxalite outfits:
a. It is illogical to compare a lawfully structured formal organisation to follow the footsteps
of illegal and irregular forces.
b. In any case, even LTTE recruited women only after it fell short of male volunteers.
c. There is a secondary concern that romantic relationships between men and women on
the front lines could disrupt a unit's fighting capability.
7. Counter-argument to if BSF can have an all women battalion to guard border, why not the
Indian Army: Following important facts need to be highlighted:
a. Women are not on the front in combat role. They are mainly assisting the male officers.
b. Their task is akin to what CISF women have been carrying out at the airports for long –
frisking of women.
8. There will be frequent disruption in service due to marriage and family obligations and child
bearing.
CONCLUDING REMARK:
 It should never be forgotten that the primary reason for the constitution of the armed forces is
to ensure security of the country.
 Decisions which have a far reaching effect on the defence potential of the armed forces must be
taken with due diligence. Instead of replicating a model, India must chart its own policy by taking
an honest feedback.
 And as stated above that armed forces are not a ‘rozgar yojana’ to provide employment to all
segments of the society in equal proportion. Defence matters cannot be treated as publicity
gimmick to ‘flaunt sexual equality’.
 As it is a question of nation’s defence, the best man or woman should be selected for every job.
In other words, women should be inducted in the services only if they add value or at least not
affect it adversely.

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WOMEN IN TERRITORIAL ARMY

In jnauary 2018 it was announced that women will be inducted into Territorial Army.
About:
 The Delhi High Court has observed that “Women are eligible for recruitment and appointment to
the Territorial Army under Section 6 of the Indian Territorial Army Act, 1948”.
 Eligibility rules:
o Section 6 of the Territorial Army Act lays down rules on who is eligible for enrolment in
the Territorial Army.
o The High Court said the words “any person” in Section 6 shall include both men and
women.
 Arguments sighted:
o Not allowing women to join amounted to “institutionalised discrimination” and went
against the Fundamental Rights.
o Government has not given any rationale to justify its action of enforcing a bar against
recruitment of women in the force.
o Around 22 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia permit recruitment
of women even in combat roles.
 Significance:
o This clears the path for induction of women in the Territorial Army.

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DRUG MENACE IN PUNJAB

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has released a study
titled “Epidemiology of Substance Use and Dependence in the State of Punjab”.
About it:
The PGIMER carried out this study over two years for the
Indian Council of Medical Research with the help of the
various medical colleges in Punjab.
Its key findings are:
 Between 1 lakh to 2.7 lakh people in Punjab are

dependent on drugs.
 One in 92 persons in Punjab had used ‘any’ illicit
substance (drug) in the past 12 months. More than
one in 87 were currently dependent on them.
 Substance use is more common in rural than urban areas.
 It is higher in specific high-risk populations for instance — homeless people, prison population,
other non-household population like truck drivers and college students in hostels.
 In Punjab natural opioids (opium and poppy husk) were the most common types in use while
injection opioid (heroin) use was the second most common form.
Challenges
 Smugglers’ modus operandi

o Punjab is no exception to the rule that drug smuggling leads to drug addiction in the
areas along the smuggling routes. Punjab’s proximity to the heroin-producing Golden
Crescent—Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran— makes it extremely vulnerable.
o Besides the Golden Crescent route, heroin also enters Punjab from Uttar Pradesh,
Rajasthan. Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
 Pakistan’s anti-India strategy
o Continuation of Punjab’s drug problem is in the interests of Pakistan’s security
establishment.
o Cross-border smuggling in drugs, weapons and fake currency is an essential part of that
strategy as it avoids the dangers of direct conflict and military intervention with India.
 Deficient Security Mechanism
o There is hardly any coordination among the police, the BSF, and the state and central
intelligence agencies for curbing the problem.
o Cross-border cooperation for tackling the drug menace is almost non-existent given the
hostile India-Pakistan relations.
o The Punjab Police has limited capacity to investigate narco-terror, particularly related to
modern technological and scientific tools to counter the problem.
 Legal Hurdles and Lack of Expertise
o The low conviction rates and delay in punishment under the Narcotics Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have also proved to be problem areas.
o According to the present provisions of the NDPS Act, a seizure of less than five grams of
heroin can lead to an imprisonment of up to six months and a fine up to INR 10,000.
o In order to take advantage of the legal loopholes, most of the trafficking takes place in
small quantities.
o Moreover, the suspect can easily secure bail.

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 The P-P-P (Police-Politician-Peddler) Nexus

o It is claimed that major political parties are hand-in-glove with drug smugglers as Punjab
is witnessing the era of “Narco Politics”.
o They are becoming increasingly dependent on drug money to fund the increased cost of
election campaigns, and they use narcotics with impunity to woo voters.
o The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs admitted in the Rajya Sabha in June 2016
that some 68 employees of Punjab Police have been arrested since 2014 due to their
involvement in the drug trade.
Immediate steps
Some of the most immediate steps that can be taken include the following:
 Government should immediately create an joint institutionalised mechanism where the state
police, BSF, DRI, NCB, Intelligence Bureau and other important agencies are represented.
 There should be an increase in funding for specialised training of police professionals dealing
with drug detection and investigations.
 Top priority must be accorded to the investigation of drug-related cases that have been stalled
for a long time, particularly those arrested on charges of drug smuggling and supplying.
 The government should actively promote intelligence sharing between state and central
agencies.
 As a pilot project, the new Punjab government should create border police stations per border
district for investigating border crimes alone; it is likely to lead to more conviction of smugglers
and better synergy among various agencies.
 Simultaneously, politicians with known record of having links with drug peddlers must be
targeted with clear directions to the police and intelligence agencies not to spare anyone.
Investigations into those cases must be expedited.

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Long-term measures:
 Improvement of security infrastructure and surveillance capability at India-Pakistan border

should be accorded priority by the government.
 The Central government should develop ways of providing additional focus on anti-corruption
measures, the modernisation of the police and judiciary, even though they fall predominantly
within state government jurisdictions.
 The residents of villages located on the India-Pakistan border often work as couriers for drug
smugglers as they receive a very lucrative amount for carrying out this task. Thus recruitment
‘Border Volunteers’ from those areas with a fixed compensation
 There must be initiatives aimed at reducing the demand for drugs. This should include initiatives
to strengthen civil society groups, and help NGOs to develop institutional links with the state
organisations to control drug abuse.
 Community policing can play a meaningful role in building partnerships with parents and
community leaders to become mentors for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.
 The government should encourage sports and other recreational facilities for youth, so that they
can focus on healthy and productive ways of spending their free time.
 The lack of money among the youth is also forcing them to commit drug-related crimes. There
should be efforts to create job opportunities for the youth.
 Performance assessment, monitoring and evaluation are important tools for any successful
system. Thus, regular assessment and feedback of ground realities of the anti-drug drive must be
ensured by the government.
ISLAMIC STATE IN DECLINE

In late 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has declared victory over the Islamic State.
Coordinated approach under Haider al-Abadi’s leadership:
 At the peak of its influence, the IS controlled almost a third of Iraq, including Mosul, its second
largest city.
 Mr. Abadi, who took over as Prime Minister in September 2014 when the country was in the
middle of the civil war, adopted a cautious, gradualist approach with direct help from the United
States and Iran to take on the IS.
 Iraqi troops first stopped the IS’s southward expansion in the suburbs of Baghdad and then
started offensive operations in the group’s small pockets of influence.
 After capturing cities such as Ramadi and Fallujah, Iraqi troops moved to Mosul, the jewel in the
IS crown. Iran-trained Shia militias and Kurdish Peshmerga troops joined the ground battle, as
the U.S. provided air cover.
 When Mosul was liberated in July after nine months of fighting, it was arguable whether a final
victory over the IS was just a matter of time.
 Mr. Abadi claims Iraqi soldiers have established control over the vast Iraq-Syria border after
ousting IS fighters from small border towns where they had retreated after losing urban areas.
Concerns: A divided nation
 This is a moment of both relief and accomplishment, but it may be far too simplistic to conclude
that Iraq is totally rid of the IS threat.
 Iraq is a divided country today. The resource-rich south, which is mostly Shia, supports the
government and is relatively peaceful.

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 In the war-stricken north and west, there is no doubting that people feel alienated from the
Shia-dominated government in Baghdad.
 The Kurdish Autonomous Region has already held a referendum, against the wishes of Baghdad,
in which a majority of voters supported independence.
 If the government fails to tackle these divisions and lets parts of the country drift into anarchy
again, groups like the IS will find it an easy breeding ground and regain a footing.
IS still exists
 It would be blind to deny that the group doesn’t exist anymore. It is not known, for instance,
what happened to its self-declared Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
 In Syria it still controls territory, even if it is under growing pressure of Russian-American
bombing and Kurdish attacks.
Lessons from past:
 In 2006-07, al-Qaeda in Iraq had faced similar military setbacks. But when Iraq’s sectarian rivalry
took a turn for the worse and civil war broke out in Syria, it regrouped and reinvented itself as
the IS.
 Mr. Abadi has to see that this doesn’t repeat itself. In order to do so, he must, besides keeping
the military on alert, reach out to the country’s disaffected Sunnis and Kurds. Only a united Iraq
can hold off the resurrection of the extremists.
LONE WOLF ATTACKS

On 17 August 2017, in a lone wolf attack, a van was driven into pedestrians on the La
Rambla street in Barcelona, killing 14 and injuring at least 100.
A lone wolf attack is undertaken by a very small group or an individual in support of a larger cause,
but without the overall supervision or support of a terrorist organisation.
Based on analysis of lone wolf attacks across the world, following broad pattern has emerged:
● Most of the Lone wolves are young and more likely within the age group of 18 to 30 years.
● They tend to strike at a place associated with their personal frustration, like a school, college, or
a mall.
REASONS:
● Youth frustration: Most of the attacks are related to psychological problems of Youth. Either
they are angry/disillusioned with the society or they have some perceived sense of injustice
towards their religion/group.
● Channelization of frustration: This frustration is channelized by terror groups like Islamic State
which openly gives a call to its sympathisers to undertake lone wolf strikes against countries
which are seen as a direct threat to the spread of its brand of Islam.
● Use of social media: The sophisticated use of social media has enabled Islamic State (IS) to
spread its message at a far-distance place among youth which has huge presence on social
media.
● Difficult to pre-empt: Being undertaken by an individual/small group with little sharing of
information with others and little planning, it becomes difficult to predict an attack
Vulnerability OF INDIA: India has so far not experienced a lone wolf strike, but remains vulnerable
to lone wolf attacks because:

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● IS visualises the country’s democratic, secular and open social fabric as a threat to their concept
of an Islamic Caliphate.
● There have been cases of recruitment for propagating the IS ideology and participating in the
Syrian conflict. So it is a matter of time before they find recruits willing to employ violence in
India itself.
● Lone wolf attacks have happened in our neighbourhood (Bangladesh).
● Grievances among minorities is increasing due to mob lynching incidents.
● One of Indian Mujahideen’s (IM) faction has joined IS.
STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO PREVENT LONE WOLF ATTACKS:
● Identify the potential target groups and propagators of extremist ideology through Use of Big
data analytics and monitoring and infiltration of social media sites that are the principal source
of radical propaganda.
● Remove the grievances of youth and ensure their proper integration in the society by taking help
of professional counsellors and psychologists.
● The hardened ideologues must be prosecuted under the counter terrorism laws of the state.
Tightening of laws to ensure that they don’t escape the laws
● Ensure deployment of private security at high value targets like malls, hotels and schools to
deter individual aiming to target them.
● Minimise the reaction time to a terror strike by creating and training specialised police teams in
every state to act as first-responders.
POLICE REFORM
In 2017, Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar remarked that “Police
reforms are going on and on. Nobody listens to our orders.”
History of police reforms

 National Police Commission (1977-79), set up by the Janata government kick-started reforms but
lost stream.
 The impetus to police reforms was given by Prakash Singh (former DGP of UP and former chief of
BSF) who filed a PIL in 1996 and sought major changes to the police structure.
 In response to this PIL, Supreme Court gave its nearly revolutionary directions in 2006
SC directions to state government’s (2006)
 The SC’s directions to the States included
o fixed tenure of two years for top police officers in crucial positions,
o setting up of a State Security Commission (in which the leader of the Opposition party
also had a role, and would give policy directions to the police),
o clear separation of law & order and crime functions of the police and
o Creation of a Police Establishment Board to regulate police placements.
 It also mandated a new Police Act on the basis of a model Act prepared by the Union
government and circulated to the States.
 It was believed that this marks the end of gross political interference in police functions.

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Follow up Action by State Government’s

 Events since 2006 have been dismaying, with several State governments have diluted the
Supreme Court directions by bringing quick hotchpotch legislation
 On the face of it, the new Police Acts appeared to be fully compliant with the judicial
prescription, but in reality they are not.
 For example we still see Directors and Inspectors-Generals (IGs) being handed out a two-year
tenure on paper, but given marching orders midway into their tenure on the most untenable
and imaginary grounds. Nobody has protested.
 The objectives of the Police Establishment Board, conceived only to depoliticise appointments
and transfers, have been set at naught by the DGPs getting informal prior political approval from
the Chief Minister/Home Minister with a view to placing politically amenable officers in vital
places in the police hierarchy.
 Politicians shouldn’t be blamed all the time
o Many dishonest policemen — there are quite a few in every State police — get away
with accusing the local politician of preventing them from discharging their duties. But
there is not always a politician energising the police to act blatantly against canons of
ethics.
o The excuse of preoccupation with law and order problems and inadequate manpower
cannot fully explain the predilection for inaction that has become routine in our style of
policing.
o Can you cite political interference or lack of resources as the alibi for this gross apathy?
Concluding remark
 That police is a State subject complicates matters, but self-correction within the force is
essential.
 Unless there is self-correction within the police, a process initiated by the DGP and his aides, we
cannot see a perceptible change in the manner in which policing is carried out in most parts of
the country.
 Just as there are many bright spots in the police forces, there are an equal number of
enlightened elements in our polity, who are willing to listen to police woes.
 There is here a symbiotic relationship without activating which our police forces will remain
condemned and shunned by the law-abiding citizen.
SHORTAGE OF COPS
Latest Data compiled by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) reveals
that there are 3 cops for each VIP, but just 1 for every 663 aam aadmi.
Following are the key highlights of the latest data compiled by the Bureau of Police Research and
Development (BPR&D) under the home
ministry on police personnel:
VIP culture:
 Out of a total 19.26 lakh police

officers in the country, 56,944 are
deployed just for the safety of
20,828 VIPs across 29 states and six
Union territories.
 That makes an average of 2.73 cops

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for every VIP in the country.

 VIP culture is more prevalent in north and east India. Lakshadweep is the only state/UT where
no one has been given dedicated police protection.
 More than threat perception, having a police officer around for security has become a status
symbol for many. This shows that despite promises by politician’s year after year, VIP culture
continues to thrive in India.
Shortage for ordinary citizen:
 There is a huge shortage of

police personnel for ordinary
citizens with one cop looking
after every 663 Indians.
 According to international
norms, India is short of 5 Lakh
Police officers.
Comment:
 With just 150 cops per lakh

population, India's emerging
power status is at odds with its position at the near bottom of
this statistical table with some of the poorest nations for
company.
 The failure to staff police force adequately has created a corps of overworked and extremely
stressed police.
 In a 2014 BPR&D study, 68% of surveyed SHOs reported that their subordinates worked more
than 11 hours daily and 73% were summoned to work on offdays too.
 Institutional realities like custodial torture, non-registration of FIRs, low conviction rate and
corruption are a direct consequence of the apathy to police reforms.
Second Administrative Reforms Commission:
 It has recommended that one way to reduce the burden of the police forces could be to
outsource or redistribute some non-core police functions (such as traffic management, disaster
rescue and relief, and issuing of court summons) to government departments or private
agencies.
 These functions do not require any special knowledge of policing, and therefore may be
performed by other agencies. This will also allow the police forces to give more time and energy
to their core policing functions.
DINESHWAR SHARMA APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL

‘REPRESENTATIVE’ (SR)
Dineshwar Sharma has been appointed as a special ‘Representative’(SR) by the Union
Government for Kashmir to interact with the wide cross section of society in Kashmir to
understand their “legitimate aspirations”
“Na goli se, na gali se, baat banegi – gale lagane se” (Problems in Jammu and Kashmir can neither be
solved through bullets nor through abuses, but only by embracing all Kashmiris) - PM Modi re-
emphasized his commitment made to the people of Kashmir in his Independence Day speech of 2017

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About:
 He is an Indian Police Service

officer of the 1979 batch.
 He was the former Director of
Intelligence Bureau (DIB) of the
Intelligence Bureau.
 Now he has been appointed as
the Centre’s special
representative for holding
dialogue with all stakeholders
in J&K.
ANALYSIS
Is he the right person for the task?
The move has been generally appreciated by the stake holders although some criticism has been
made that the interlocutor should have been a ‘political’ personality rather than an ex-DIB.
 Experienced: But the credentials of the new SR are impeccable and this has been accepted by
all. He has a wide range of experience — from handling separatism and insurgencies to
domestic and regional politics.
 Non-Political: Further, being a non-political personality, he is better placed to have an
unbiased approach.
Issues to be dealt:
 It is not difficult to guess what issues might be raised by different stakeholders. Some
questions are of political nature while others will be of socio-economic development, cultural
character.
 Some of these would be: Article 370, autonomy, self-rule, pellet guns, socio-economic
development, Pakistan’s role, terrorism, Kashmiri Pundits, aspirations of the youth etc.
 The regional disparities – the aspirations of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Poonch etc. would also
be raised.
 Different stakeholders would have varying agendas. This can be expected. Sometimes, these
agendas are irreconcilable. But the government should be cautious.
 The agenda of the radical elements, jihadis and separatists should not be allowed to succeed.
The initiative cannot be a road to disintegration of India.
Timely bold move:

 His appointment is a positive and bold step.
 Skeptics believed that government would continue to follow a hardline approach. Yet, the
government has managed to surprise every one and taken the initiative in its hands.
 It is also a timely step because over the last few months the government has been able to
bring the law and order situation under some control.
 The Government move also shows that it is ready to follow a multi-pronged strategy of
complimenting a firm approach with a political approach.
Government’s focus is on bringing “Permanent Peace” in Kashmir
which can only be brought by “dialogue” – Dineshwar Sharma
Hurdles: In the past there have been several initiatives which did not succeed. Why?
 The issues involved are complex and carry the historical baggage of 70 years of history during
which many mistakes were made by all sides.

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 Also, the external sponsorship of terrorism and militancy has complicated the problem
immensely.
Way ahead:
 Role of Media: The media will have a role to play in the success of the initiative. Hyper-ism
should be avoided and no artificial deadlines should be imposed. The process should be
allowed to take its own course.
 Role of political parties: It is hoped that they will keep national interest rather than narrow
partisan interests in mind while reacting to the initiative.
 Approach of SR: he should have an open mind and listen to all sides without preconceived
notions. Some sections may even boycott the SR, just to make a point or gain publicity. The SR
should take all this in his stride.
 Learn from past: Further, lessons should be drawn from the previous experiences. A proper
assessment of the earlier episodes should be made and factored in.
 Dealing with violence: Talks and violence cannot go hand-in-hand here. Talking cannot be a
license for violence. But at the same time, security forces cannot afford to lower their guard
against Pak sponsored infiltrators.
ZOJILA TUNNEL
Union Cabinet has approved the construction of 2-lane bi-directional Zojila tunnel with
parallel escape tunnel in J&K
Project Details:
 Components:
o Main line: 14 km bi-directional single tube tunnel.
o Parallel Engress tunnel: 14 km-long tube excluding entry points.
 Duration: Seven years
 Total Cost of project: Rs 6,800 crore.
 Implementing Agency: It will be implemented by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
(MoRT&H) through National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited
(NHIDCL).
Impact:
 Strategic
o Alongwith other ongoing projects
like 6.5 km long Z-Morh tunnel at
Gagangir, it would ensure all
whether connectivity to
strategically important Leh region
in Jammu & Kashmir which at the
moment is limited to at best 6
months because of snow on the
passes.
 Economic:
o The project, on completion, would
lead to enormous boost in
employment as local businesses get linked to National market.
o It will also boost tourism by linking the beautiful region to rest of India.

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CROSS-LOC TRADE
In mid-2017, cross-LoC trade on the Uri-Muzaffarabad route resumed. Trade was
stopped in Uri on July 21 after banned drugs were seized from a truck.
Trade on the Poonch-Rawalakot route has stopped for over a month now after border
tensions.
BACKGROUND:
● The cross-LoC trade between the two sides of
Jammu and Kashmir started in 2008 under the
Composite Dialogue process between India and
Pakistan.
● “Barter trade” takes place on a mutually agreed list
of 21 items (which originate in Kashmir) through
two designated routes —
o Uri-Muzaffarabad route (through Kashmir).
o Poonch-Rawalakot (through Jammu).
● Currently the trade takes place only four times a
week, with 100 vehicles (each under 9 tonnes)
allowed to cross the LoC each day.
The idea of COMPOSITE DIALOGUE
IT’S IMPORTANCE: PROCESS was first mooted in 1997
which was subsequently launched. The
1. It continues to be one of the most successful process covers 8 issues: (1) Peace and
confidence building measures (CBMs) between the Security, including confidence-building
two countries. measures (CBMs); (2) Jammu and
2. The trade has generated employment for several Kashmir; (3) Siachen Glacier; (4) Wullar
traders as well as unemployed and vulnerable youth. Barrage/Tulbul Navigation project; (5)
Sir Creek; (6) Economic and Commercial
In Indian Administered J&K, cross-LOC trade
Cooperation; (7) Terrorism and Drug
generated employment of 50,000 manpower days trafficking; and, (8) Promotion of
between 2008-2015. friendly exchanges in various fields.
3. It has managed to connect the two divided sides of
However, after 26/11 and subsequent
Jammu and Kashmir by promoting greater people-to-
border tensions has halted any
people contact and developing goodwill, thereby meaningful discussion under it.
creating a constituency of peace in an otherwise tense
region.
CHALLENGES: But following factors continue to inhibit the trade –
1. It is solely based on barter system of exchange due to which they have limited choice in the
products allowed to be exchanged. Also during price fluctuation in the markets, the mechanism
of barter becomes a problem. All this leads to loss for traders.
2. Number of items continue to be limited to 21, although traders are demanding its revision from
2009. The list comprises mainly agricultural and handicraft items; there are no manufacturing
items.
3. There exist infrastructural issues like poor quality of road infrastructure and lack of full truck
scanners, banking facilities (a pre-requisite to move on from barter trade) and direct
communication line across the LoC for traders on both sides.
4. Due to strain between India-Pakistan relations the trade has often remained suspended for long
periods, at times for months at a stretch.

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SUGGESTIONS TO BETTER TRADE:
1. Instead of existing barter trade, explore monetized form of trade. For this establish local state
banks on both sides of the LOC, where Trade Facilitation Account (TFA) needs to be maintained
to undertake trade (as sanctioned by RBI in 2016).
2. Expand the list of tradable items, with introduction of harmonised system (HS) codes to prevent
items being misrepresented. This should be supplemented by establishing Value-added
Industries in Indian-administered J&K and Pakistan administered Kashmir.
3. Infrastructural reforms: Up-grade the road infrastructure; institute formal communication
channels between traders. Install full body truck scanners at check-posts to ease and expedite
inspection and minimise damage to goods.
4. Re-contextualise cross-LOC trade in terms of SAARC trade through innovative models like “Intra-
regional Cluster Trading” to isolate it from political
issues affecting Indo-Pak relations. Intra-regional clusters
5. Strengthen the J&K Joint Chambers of Commerce and Within SAARC, form clusters between
Industry (JKJCCI), which is the only institution with sub-regions/countries that have
membership spanning across LOC. Also include cross- cultural links e.g. clusters can include
LOC traders in national level chambers such as FICCI, West Bengal-Bangladesh, Tamil Nadu
CII, ASSOCHAM to give them more voice. and Sri Lanka, Gujarat-Kutch (Pakistan)
and two cross-LOC trade.
6. A joint investigation team from India and Pakistan
should be set up to investigate cases of narcotic and With formation of these 4 clusters, the
arms smuggling across the border. cross-LOC trade can be seen through
7. Open more trade routes across the LoC to make trade the larger ambit of SAARC rather than
through bilateral prism of India-
and travel geographically easier”.
Pakistan.
8. Organize periodic “Border Haats” (rural markets) at
the LoC to enhance the economic well being of communities living near the LoC, and to boost
informal trade.
CONCLUDING REMARK:
● With strong political will, there is immense potential to transform the line of control into a line
of commerce or even a line of cooperation.
ARTICLE 35A
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has objected to union governments demand of
seeking a “larger debate” on Article 35A, which was raised last month in supreme court.
ABOUT A-35A:
 Article 35A is a provision in the Indian Constitution which was added through the ‘Constitution
(Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954’, issued under Article 370.
 It empowers the J&K legislature to define permanent residents (PRs) of the state.
 The J&K Constitution defines a PR as a person who was a state subject on May 14, 1954, or who
has been a resident of the state for 10 years, and has “lawfully acquired immovable property in
the state”.
 The definition of PR can be altered when a law is passed for the same by a two-thirds majority of
J&K legislature.
BACKGROUND TO RECENT CONTROVERSY:
 In 2014, an NGO We the Citizens filed a writ petition seeking the striking down of Article 35A on
the ground that

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o It bars non-state subjects from settling and buying property in J&K and encourages a
separate identity.
o This view is also supported RSS and other Sangh groups who are unanimous that the
only way to permanently end the Kashmir dispute is to alter its demography by settling
people from outside the state, with the right to acquire land and property, and vote in
the assembly elections.
 However, political parties in J&K oppose it on the following grounds:
o It is a part of series of moves to breach the state’s special status and going ahead with it
will have dangerous ramifications.
o Like Article 370, Article 35A was negotiated between the princely state of J&K and the
government of India and it is the bedrock of accession.
 Present status: Last month, Attorney General told the Supreme court that the petition raised
Constitutional issues after which the court referred the matter to a three-judge bench and set six
weeks for final disposal.
ATTACKS ON ARMY INSTALLATION

What happened?
 Militants in J&K attacked an Army camp in Kupwara after they managed to cross the second
security layer of the camp.
 3 Army soldiers and two militants were killed in the attack.
 After the attack, civilians clashed with security forces, demanding that the bodies of the
militants be handed over for last rites. In that a 75-year-old civilian was killed.
Comment:
 This is the latest among a string of attacks on military installations over the last two years. Both
2015 and 2016 saw six major attacks each on military installations.
 According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, 88 security forces personnel were killed in J&K in
2016, the highest since 2008.
 These attacks are symbolic of a dramatic turnaround in the nature of violence in the Valley.
The Lt. Gen. Philip Campose Committee Report
 In the aftermanth of attack on The Pathankot Air Force base 2 January 2016, government
appointed a committee under the leadership of Lt. Gen. (Retd) Philip Campose to review the
security across military installations. The committee submitted it’s report in May 2016.
 Findings?
o The security set-up is quite poor in most places: there are command & control
problems and ambiguous SOPs without specific responsibilities and responses being
assigned to personnel.
o Poorly equipped guards at the bases: they continue to use outdated INSAS rifles which
are no match for the AK-47s of terrorists. They do not have bullet-proof jackets or
'patkas' and night-vision devices.
o Intelligence alters ignored: there are tardy response systems in place to first act on
intelligence alerts and then counter terror attacks. In both Pathankot and Uri, there
were advance alerts about possible attacks.
 Recommendations?
o The committee formulated upgraded standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all
defense installations to prevent fidayeen attacks.

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o There is an urgent need to install modern "access-control, perimeter security-cum-

intrusion detection systems"
o Provide new weapons, bullet-proof jackets and night-vision devices to personnel
guarding the bases.
o All This necessitates a large quantum of funds to the defence services. Thus the report
suggests priority of allocation in a phased manner.
o Create a number of 'commando-trained' companies of the Territorial Army to cover gaps
in extra-vulnerable installations.
o An independent external security audit of all defence installations (This
recommendation of an external security audit has been objected to by the three services
who wish to undertake such audits internally).
CRIMES IN INDIA-2016
In November 2017, NCRB released the report crime in India-2016.
Key findings:
(1) Violent Crimes
 Viewed in perspective, the murder rate today has declined to the level prevailing in the 1950s,
which was 2.7 per 1,00,000 people, after touching a peak of 4.62 in 1992.
 But that macro figure conceals regional variations. Not all States are equally affected
 In U.P. and Bihar, 4,889 and 2,581 murder incidents took place during 2016, respectively, while it
was 305 in densely populated Kerala.
 One question that needs to be analysed is, how much does social development influence a
reduction in crime?
 The recent data should prompt State governments to make a serious study of the underlying
causes.
(2) Crime against Women
 The national tally on crimes against women is up by 2.9% over that of 2015.
 Here also, there is a distinct urban geography as well for violence against women, with Delhi and
Mumbai appearing the least safe: Delhi recorded a rate of crime that is more than twice the
national average.
 Since the Delhi gang rape case of 2012 the definition of the heinous offence has been
broadened, police forces have been directed to record the crime with greater sensitivity, and
some measures have been initiated to make public places safer for women.
 This approach could lead to a reduction in violent crime over time.
(3) Juveniles:
 There is a rise in the number of cases involving juveniles.

 A focussed programme to universalise education and skills training would potentially keep
juveniles from coming into conflict with the law.
(4) Undertake police reforms:
 The orders of the Supreme Court on police reforms issued in 2006 have not been implemented
in letter and spirit by all States.

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 With genuine measures, Ministerial superintendence over the police would become more
transparent and socially accountable, eliminating political interference in its working.
 This would lead to a reduction in crimes committed with impunity and raise public confidence in
the criminal justice delivery system.
(5) Data Improvement:
 As a measure of data improvement, it should be mandatory to record not just the principal
offence in a case, as the NCRB does, and list all cognisable offences separately.
Rather than view the available data passively, governments would do well to launch serious studies
that result in policies and measures for freedom from violence.
WANNACRY
The recent outbreak of the WannaCry ransomware infected over 200,000 systems in just a
few days. Several cyber security firms have identified this as the biggest cyberattack in
over a decade.
What is WannaCry?
 What is it’s full name? WannaCryptor 2.0 ‘ransomware’.
 What is a ransom-ware?
o Ransomware is a malware that encrypts the files on an infected system and then
demands a ransom to decrypt them, with escalation in the demand over time.
o The ransom demand is in Bitcoins.
o It often reaches victims as mail attachment. Once opened, it spreads to other computers
in the network exploiting the Windows vulnerability. It spreads using a flaw in older
Microsoft windows system.
What does this indicates towards the future?
 Targeted attacks: This shows that cybercriminals are becoming more targeted in launching an
attack and are exceedingly sharp at using technology. They are capable of carrying large scale
disruption which can include sourcing confidential data and causing financial loss.
 All devices are vulnerable: Any machine can be infected. Cyberattacks are not limited to
computers. They can infiltrate any device.
 Problem of persisted backdoors: Remote hackers can use the malware in an infected system to
create a persistent backdoor in the system. This persistent backdoor can exist even after the
system is updated.
What is the way ahead for organizations?
To deal with these problems, Organizations require a multi-level strategy which should include the
following measures:
1. Organizations should use the latest OS and install all the updates and security patches in a timely
manner. PCs without security patches should not be connected to the network.
2. Cyber-security teams should always be updated, such as new malware and the procedures to
tackle with the problem.
3. If persistent backdoors are created in a infected network, then updating and cleaning may not
be sufficient. In these cases, security experts should conduct an Indepth analysis to remove such
backdoors.

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4. Regular back-ups should be taken to minimize data loss in case of a malware attack.
5. All employees should be trained to identify whether their devices have been compromised by a
malware.
DATA PROTECTION FRAMEWORK FOR INDIA
The Committee of Experts on a Data Protection Framework for India (Chaired by Justice B. N.
Srikrishna) released a white paper on “Data Protection framework for India”.
SUMMARY FACTS: BN SRIKRISHNA COMMITTEE
 Timeline: It was constituted in August 2017; submitted its report in November, 2017 and has
sought comments on certain questions raised by it till January 31, 2018.
 Scope:
o To examine issues related to data protection,
o recommend methods to address them, and
o draft a law for data protection.
 Objective: To ensure growth of the digital economy while keeping personal data of citizens
secure and protected.
BACKGROUND: A DIGITAL INDIA IN A DIGITAL WORLD
 Rise of Information age: The 21st century is widely referred to as ‘the information age’. It is
believed that by 2020, the global volume of digital data we create is expected to reach 44
zettabytes.
 Digital India: This digital revolution has permeated India as well. Recognising its significance, the
Government of India has envisaged and implemented the “Digital India” initiative.
 Digital India to Digital economy: With nearly 450 million Internet users and a growth rate of 7-
8%, India is well on the path to becoming a digital economy, which is expected to generate new
market growth opportunities and jobs in the coming 40-50 years.
 Digital data processing: While the transition to a digital economy is underway, Internet has
given birth to entirely new market of those dealing in collecting, organizing and processing of
personal information. As has been noted by the Supreme Court in Puttaswamy:
“‘Uber’, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles.
‘Facebook’, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content.
‘Alibaba’, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory.
And ‘Airbnb’, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate.”
CONCERNS:
 While data can be put to beneficial use, the unregulated and arbitrary use of data, especially
personal data, has raised concerns regarding the privacy and autonomy of an individual due to
dangers posed by state and non-state actors in the information age.
 Some of the concerns relate to centralisation of databases, profiling of individuals, increased
surveillance and a consequent erosion of individual autonomy.
 Puttaswamy judgement:
o Privacy was also the subject matter of the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court in
Puttaswamy, which recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right.
o Further, it went on to recognise informational privacy as a facet of the right to privacy

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o It also directed the Union Government to put in place a robust data protection regime to
ensure protection against the dangers posed to an individual’s privacy.
 Cyberattacks: The massive online attack using ransomware WannaCry allowed hackers to seize
control of computers at hospitals, retail shops, logistics firms and individuals across 100
countries. In India, too, there have been a number of incidents wherein cyber thieves have
stolen information from the Aadhaar database.
In this light, formulating a data protection law is the need of the hour for India.
IMPORTANCE OF DATA PROTECTION:
The issue of data protection is important both intrinsically and instrumentally.
1. Intrinsic: Intrinsically, a regime for data protection is synonymous with protection of

informational privacy. As the Supreme Court observed in Puttaswamy, “Informational privacy is
a facet of the right to privacy.
2. Instrumental: Instrumentally, a firm legal framework for data protection is the foundation on
which data-driven innovation and entrepreneurship can flourish in India.
COMPARATIVE APPROACHES TO DATA PROTECTION
Globally, there are two distinct models in the field of data protection.
1. EU Model:
a. It is a rights based one, where protection of personal data is equated with protecting the
fundamental right to privacy.
b. However, it has been criticised for being excessively stringent, and imposing many
obligations on the organisations processing data.
2. US model:
a. it focuses on protecting the individual from excessive State regulation.
b. It recognises the value of data vis-a-vis encouraging innovation, and therefore allows
collection of personal information as long as the individual is informed of such collection
and use.
c. However it has been viewed as inadequate in key respects.
These approaches must be kept in mind while framing a data protection law.
DATA PROTECTION IN INDIA
Drafting a data protection law for India is not a greenfield exercise. Though piecemeal, several
legislative developments and judicial pronouncements are relevant for determining the contours of
such a law.
Puttaswamy judgement:
 The nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Puttaswamy recognised the right to privacy as an
intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India.
 The Court recognised ‘informational privacy’ as an important aspect of the right to privacy.
Legislative Developments
 While regulators in the US, China and the EU have put in place laws to address concerns around
privacy and data protection, India has so far taken a piecemeal approach.

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 These includes the SPDI Rules under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), Aadhaar Act,
2016 as well as various sector specific laws on data protection.
 Regulators including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India (TRAI) have put in place a few data-protection rules but those are limited to some aspects
of financial transactions and telecom networks, respectively.
SPDI Rules is an acronym for the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Sensitive
Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011.
RECOMMENDATION: SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF A DATA PROTECTION LAW
A data protection framework in India must be based on the following seven principles:
1. Technology agnosticism: The law must be flexible to take into account changing technologies
and standards of compliance.
2. Holistic application: The law must apply to both private sector entities and government.
Differential obligations may be carved out in the law for certain legitimate state aims.
3. Informed consent: Consent is an expression of human autonomy. Thus, Consent should be
genuine, informed, and meaningful.
4. Data minimisation: Processing of data should be minimal and only for the purpose for which it is
sought.
5. Controller accountability: Entities controlling the data should be accountable for any data
processing, whether by itself or entities with whom it may have shared the data for processing.
6. Structured enforcement: Enforcement of the data protection framework should be by a high-
powered statutory authority. This must coexist with appropriately decentralised enforcement
mechanisms.
7. Deterrent penalties: Penalties should be adequate to discourage any wrongful acts.
QUESTIONS RAISED BY IT
Some of the questions asked by the Committee relate to:
 Applicability: (i) Territorial applicability of the law, (ii) extent to which the law should apply
outside India, and (iii) measures that should be included in the law to ensure compliance by
foreign entities.
 Definition of personal data: (i) what kind of information qualifies as personal data, (ii) should
the definition focus on whether a person can be identified based on the data, and (iii) treatment
of sensitive personal data.
 Exemptions: the categories of exemptions that should be included under the law, and the basic
safeguards that should be ensured when processing data in these categories.
 Consent: It Conditions that determine valid consent.
 Enforcement models: It sought comments on the enforcement tools to be used for: (i) code of
conduct, (ii) breach of personal data, (iii) categorisation of different data controllers, and (iv)
creation of a separate data protection authority.
COMMENT:
The exhaustive paper released by the Srikrishna Committee is a delayed but a welcome move. Thus
the Centre must hasten to finalise a policy.
Concerns:
Critiques have raised some concerns regarding the proposals of the Committee:

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 India relies on many imported technologies which follow the standards of their origin countries
and different countries have different rules. It will be difficult to apply the indigenous laws on
those imported technologies.
 There is also lack of analysis of data protection vis-a-vis Aadhaar.
Way ahead:
 Maintain balance: it is critical to bring a balance between the innovation and privacy.
 Which model to follow? In this era of Big Data analytics when there is fear that individual
liberties are compromised. its better to follow the rights-based approach of the European
Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, 2016.
 Clear rules: Ground rules that legitimise reasonable access to data must be clearly spelt out.
 Spread awareness: There is also a need for a national awareness campaign to highlight the
importance of adopting strong encryption and to be cautious in the virtual world.
CATTLE SMUGGLING ALONG

INDIA-BANGLADESH BORDER
In late 2017, two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed, allegedly by cattle
smugglers along the India-Bangladesh border.
Present status:
 Cattle illegally moves into Bangladesh from various parts of northern and north-eastern India.
 The cattle trade on the India-Bangladesh border is worth $500 million annually.
Reason for cattle smuggling:

 Demand-supply: The demand for beef in Bangladesh is quite high but the supply is limited. On
the other hand, India is a cattle surplus country and the demand for beef is fairly low.
 Profit: The demand-supply equation keeps the price of cattle quite high in Bangladesh. A cattle
head which fetches Rs 500 to 3000 in India gets as much as Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 in
Bangladesh.
 Export ban: A major reason for the flourishing cattle smuggling is the export ban imposed by
India due to
o Article 48 of the Directive Principles of State Policy which tells state to prohibit the
slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.
o Cow occupying a holy position in Hinduism
 Loopholes in laws (In India): The smugglers also advantage of loopholes in Indian laws. The law
does not ban movement of cattle from one state to another.
 Cattle smuggling is not illegal in Bangladesh: Bangladesh does not treat cattle smuggling from
India as a crime. A cattle “smuggler” becomes a “trader” once he is in Bangladesh and pays Taka
500 (Rs. 383) as Customs charges. He only has to state that he found the cattle “roaming near
the border”.
 Difficult terrain: In some parts on India-Bangladesh border, it is not easy to establish and
maintain border pillars. This makes effective patrolling difficult in these areas.
 Cultural links: Also the communities who straddle the political boundary are of the same ethnic
stock, with common language, traditions and culture. All this encourages smuggling of all kind
including cattle.

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Consequence: Killing of people & BSF personnel

 It has made the Indo-Bangladesh border a dangerous place for ordinary people.
 To counter cattle smuggling Indian Border Security Force (BSF) fires on the smugglers which
leads to killing of Bangladeshi citizens. NGOs in Bangladesh claim that over 1000 Bangladeshis
have been killed on the border between 2001 and 2010.
 In 2012, on the request of the Bangladesh government, BSF resorted to non-lethal weapons like
rubber bullets and pump action guns. This led to reduction in killing of Bangladeshis but
increased the number of BSF personnel injured in the attacks by smugglers. Thus India contends
that the security forces resort to the use of lethal weapons in self-defence.
 These accusations and counter-accusations have further deepened suspicion and bitterness
between the two neighbours.
Consequence: Linkages with organized crime and terrorists
 Cattle smuggling over the years has become a criminal enterprise with several networks involved
in the trade. It is part of a much bigger smuggling racket that includes human trafficking, guns
and other contraband.
 Money laundering: The smugglers obviously use the hawala route to transfer money and their
activities have raised concerns about flow of fake currency and funding of terrorists.
 Terrorism: Indian security and intelligence agencies have also found evidence of the link
between cattle smuggling and terrorist groups operating out of Bangladesh (mainly Harkat-ul
Jihad al Islami (HuJI))
 Illegal migration: The cattle trade route is also linked to the problem of illegal migration.
Dilemma for Indian policy-makers:
 Any steps by India to curb cattle smuggling could be interpreted as being anti-Bangladesh and
further vitiate the atmosphere.
 But, if India fails to resolve the issue, more border killings could occur in the future.
 Also in India cattle trade is a highly emotive and sensitive issue.
Way ahead:
 But India should take a decision on this issue sooner to deny criminals and terrorists an easy
source of funding and transit mode.
 The most pragmatic, step would be to lift the export ban. This would make the trade legal,
facilitate health check-ups of animals and generate revenue. It would also stop needless deaths
on the border.
 As an initial step, cattle trade can be allowed in specially organized ‘haats’ or markets on the
West Bengal-Bangladesh border.
UNIQUE ID FOR COWS
 In early 2017, a Committee, led by a Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has
proposed issuing “Unique Identification Number Sequences” for cows and their progeny.
 Objective:
o To protect cows from smuggling. (Stray, abandoned & retired cattle face high risk of
falling into smugglers’ hands)
o To stop cattle smuggling at the source, instead of on the India-Bangladesh border at
the cost of the lives of BSF jawans. Over the past three years, four BSF jawans were
killed and 302 injured in skirmishes with cattle smugglers.
 How will this happen?
o Each animal be tagged with polyurethene tags with Unique Identification Number
Sequence which will include identification details like including age, breed, sex,

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lactation, height, body, colour, horn type, tail switch and special marks.
o State level databank should be set up which may be linked with national online
database for registered cattle.
o A nodal officer may be appointed as the Registrar of Cattle Premises appointed in
each state under the Registration of Cattle Premises Rules, 1978, under the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act.
INDO-CHINA BORDER ROADS

To avoid delays in border road projects, the Defence Ministry has approved the
delegation of administrative & financial powers to the Border Roads Organisation
(BRO).
IMPORTANCE OF CONSTRUCTION OF INDO–CHINA BORDER ROADS
● Constructing roads and railways infrastructure along the 4,000 km long Indo-China border is
important for facilitating movement of troops & military hardware in the event of a border
conflict.
● Over the years, China has aggressively built road and rail infrastructure along the border (its
recent manifestation being construction of road through the Doklam plateau that is claimed by
both China and Bhutan).
VIEW OF COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL (CAG):
It submitted its report titled “Construction of Indo China Border Roads by BRO” to parliament in
March 2017. Below is the summary of the report:
● Present Status (as of March 2016): India’s road building effort along the China border have been
inefficient.
o Incomplete: Out of 73 roads of operational significance along the India-China border,
only 22 have been completed so far.
o Unfit: Even the completed ones were unfit to carry heavy equipment including
weaponry.
● Reasons for poor status: Reasons provided by BRO like high altitudes, extreme atmospheric
conditions, problems in funding etc. were found to be unconvincing by CAG. The key reasons
are:
o Improper carrying out of RSTC in many cases. RECONNAISSANCE, SURVEY AND
o Delay in submission and approval of the Annual TRACE CUT (RSTC) is conducted by
Works Plan each year due to which works BRO before starting work to determine
began on the basis of ad hoc estimates of the route alignment, prepare project
documents and estimates.
manpower & funds.
o Financial and technical irregularities in the construction of roads which indicates
increasing corruption and lack of accountability in BRO.
● Consequences of delay in construction of border roads:
o Affects India’s strategic preparedness as many stretches are still abandoned.
o Heavy losses to the exchequer due to faulty execution of construction works.
o Dragging of work in bad weather conditions, Lack of contact with family for long periods
and inadequate medical facilities has affected the psychological and physical health of
personnel. It has also led to Loss of human lives: (Between 2012-16, 70 engineers/
Labourers were killed in work site).

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ABOUT BRO:
● It was formed in 1960 and since 2015 it is functioning under the Ministry of Defence. Before that
it was under Ministry of road transport and highways.
● It is the primary agency involved in the construction and maintenance of roads in border areas
(General staff (GS) roads).
● Besides GS roads it has also developed:
a. Non-border roads in states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Andaman etc.
b. International roads in Myanmar, Bhutan and Afghanistan (Delaram–Zaranj road).
INDO-MYANMAR LAND BORDER CROSSING

Union Cabinet has approved the Agreement between India and Myanmar on Land Border
Crossing.
About:
 The Agreement is an enabling arrangement for movement of people across India-Myanmar

border.
 Benefits of the Agreement:
o Facilitating movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which will
enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries.
o Safeguarding the traditional rights of the largely tribal communities residing along the
border which are accustomed to free movement across the land border.
o Giving a boost to the economy of the North East by providing connectivity and enhanced
interaction between the people of North Eastern States and Myanmar.
KILLING OF SECURITY FORCES BY MOBS

Mohammed Ayub Pandith, a deputy superintendent of police of the J&K police, was
lynched by a mob outside in Kashmir. He was on security duty at the mosque and was
stoned and beaten to death, and his clothes torn off his body. He died on the spot.
There is a difference between the killing of a policeman at the hands of a militant and by a civilian
mob. When a crowd of apparent worshippers was able to kill a person inside a mosque during the
holy month speaks of a breakdown of the moral compass.
Rise in danger to lives of security forces
 Other incidents of killing of security forces by mobs and militants in recent past:
o In early May, a 22-year-old Rajputana Rifles Lieutenant, was kidnapped and shot dead by
militants.
o In mid-June, six policemen were mercilessly killed in Achabal in Anantnag district.
 This clearly shows that life of security forces serving in Kashmir is in danger.
...but seperatists are safe
 But on the other hand the separatist forces are not only expanding, but infact are being
protected by government by way of providing them security cover. According to official data
o From 2001 to 2012, the government spent Rs 9.47 crore on providing security to
separatist leaders.

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oAnother PIL filed in the SC revealed that a total of over Rs 300 crore was incurred by
the Indian government on hotels, security and other expenses of separatist leaders.
 Although the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was formed in July 1993 with the objective
of ensuring the militants shift from bullet to ballot, but many leaders of AHPC have often
delivered speeches bordering on incitement, and far too often have they been charged with
sedition. Thus providing security covers to them should be stopped
WAY AHEAD?
In this background, we should have a following strategy:
 Firstly, strengthen the security forces to ensure that they are able to deal with mob licensee
while ensuring that mob-violence is tackled.
FORM A DEDICATED SPECIAL FORCE FOR KASHMIR
 Due to persisting fragile security situation in Kashmir, government should form a special
force specific to the state akin to the rapid action force (RAF).
 This special RAF-like force would replace other forces present in the state.
 This force will work solely in Kashmir
 It should be sufficiently large in number and well-trained to deal with the kind of violent
civil protests seen there.
 It’s aim will be to know the people, their grievances to build confidence and trust
between themselves and civilians and collect intelligence including about their plans for
future protests.
 This would go a long way in resolving grass-root civilian problems and grievances with
the state and the army.
 Secondly, instead of security cover to separatist forces, time, money and energy should be spend
on ensuring reforms and strengthening of security forces.
 Thirdly. government should have a uncompromising course of action to bring the leadership of
this secessionist movement to a stop. If secessionist forces creates a law and order problem then
a strict action should be taken to not only sieze their properties, but infact ensure that they are
convicted by courts.
CHALLENGES IN DEALING WITH VIOLENT CIVIL PROTESTS IN INDIA

PROTEST IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT:
 The citizens' right to protest is a pillar of Indian democracy.

 Article 19 of the Indian Constitution allowing citizens the right “to assemble peaceably and
without arms.” This includes the right to form associations, hold meetings, and come out in
processions.
RESTRICTIONS ON RIGHT TO PROTEST:
 But this Constitutional right to assembly is subject to social order as defined in Article 19 (3).
 Government under the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Police Act of
1861 can impose certain reasonable restrictions on the right to assemble, if such assembly is
likely to lead to a disturbance in public peace and order or if it poses a threat to national
sovereignty.

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 Use of force: Section 129 of the Criminal Penal Code allows the police and security forces to use
force in situations of public disorder.
RISE IN VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS:
 However, there are times when the protest takes a violent turn as we recently saw in the Jat
quota agitation in Haryana in February 2016 and the protests that followed the killing by security
forces of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani in Kashmir in July 2016.
 In a country like India characterized by a number of religious, ethnic, language and caste
divisions, the police are regularly confronted with large-scale protests, riots and incidents of
mass civil disorder.
 And Social media and instant messaging have made it possible for information (and
misinformation) to spread like wildfire, causing havoc for civilians and posing problems for law
enforcement officials.
LIST OF CHALLENGES IN DEALING WITH VIOLENT CIVIL PROTESTS:
Now in these protests the security forces have been criticized regularly for the way they hanhdled it.
Our present structure to tackle violent protests suffers from various challenges such as:
1. Shortage of personnel:
 According to BPR&D's 2016 annual report, there are around 5.5 lakh vacancies in the police
force in the country.
2. Ill-trained:
 Apart from this, the training provided to police personnel is subpar due to poor budgetary
allocation. According to Bureau of Police Research &Development (BPR&D), Police training
across India is allotted on average only one percent of total police expenditure.
 Also training in methods of crowd control is given adequate attention.
3. Problem in deploying CAPF’s:
Manpower shortage, as well as lack of training & proper equipment, forces state government’s to
seek helps from the Centre which, in turn, deploys the central armed police forces (CAPFs). This is
done inspite of Article 246 of the Constitution placing 'public order' and 'police' under the
jurisdiction of the state.
During the Jat quota protests in February 2016, both the CAPF and the Indian Army were deployed
at the request of the panic-stricken Haryana government.
But here also, there are various challenges:
a) Forces deployed from outside have inadequate understanding of the ground realities and local
grievances. This only worsens the situation.
b) Then there are challenges of improper coordination, liaison and cooperation with local police.
c) The allocation of appropriate task forces and special forces is equally important.
a. The CRPF is one of the most overused forces armed forces in the country which is called
in to deal with every kind of law-and-order situation.
b. Inspite of CAPFs such as the BSF, ITBP and RAF having clear-cut mandates, they often
end up being used to deal with civil protests and supplement the CRPF.

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c. This practice must be stopped. It is therefore essential to the government to formulate

and earmark specific task forces for different places and situations.
4. Lack of neutrality:
 Adding more complexity is the politicisation of the Indian police forces.

 Local police often have their own political biases and Ethnic affiliations which interfere in their
ability to monitor and control civil unrest.
 According to “Prakash Singh Committee” (which probed the Jat quota protests in February
2016), the police failed to handle the events in a proper manner either showing indifference or,
in some cases, being complicit in dealing with the rampaging mob.
5. Use of weapons:
 Although government claims to use non-lethal weapons, but even while using them it tends to
injure and kill the protesters.
 Police tend to execute Lathi haphazardly, hitting the protesters excessively and injuring scores
 Use of pellet guns: According to critiques, the pellet gun is, deceptively, a non-lethal, lethal
weapon. The use of lead pellets increases the chances of a single shot hitting more than one
person and fatally injuring them. Conservative estimates show that in Kashmir in 2016 alone,
over 90 civilians were killed by injuries caused by pellets and over 8,000 people were admitted in
hospital with other injuries including permanent blindness.
WAY AHEAD:
Irrespective of the uniqueness of the situation, Indian crowd control tactics must adhere to
international standards of crowd control. We should take the following steps
1. Police reforms: Firstly, the country must begin to seriously consider police reforms at the centre
and state level in terms of quantity as well as quality (in terms of providing training and
equipments). We should also remove politicization and ethnic affiliations from the heart and
mind of police personnel.
2. Protective equipment: Police forces should be provided adequate protective equipment when
controlling a large crowd.
3. Develop nonlethal weapons: Government and law enforcement should develop a range of non-
lethal weapons and ammunition that should be carefully evaluated in order to minimize the risk
of endangering involved persons.
4. Gather information: Police must acquire as much information as possible about the nature of
the event, the grievances of the protesters, and other basic variables.
5. On use of force: Whenever lawful use of force and firearms in unavoidable, law enforcement
officials should keep in mind the following principles:
a. No more force should be used than is necessary;
b. Force should not be used as a punitive measure; and
c. it must cease immediately after the crowd has dispersed.
6. Define emergency situations: The government must emphasize that force can only be deployed
in severe emergency situations, clearly defining what those situations may be and what type and
levels of force should be applied.

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7. Accountability: As the events in Haryana and Kashmir in 2016 have clearly demonstrated, India
must hold security force personnel to account when there is excessive use of force against
civilians, causing either serious injury or death.
8. Communication: When dealing with a violent and agitated crowd, police should maintain
effective communication between government, police officials, and the public (by media
briefings) which will help in developing trust and will also allow the government to directly
address any attempts at misinformation.
9. Some suggestions on curbing the protest: Arrest the first and second-line leaders of a mass
movement in advance, thereby denying the protest its leadership. Police may also prevent
agitators from gathering in one particular place and focus on posting adequate police reserves at
strategic points, in order to deter violence.
FORM A DEDICATED SPECIAL FORCE FOR KASHMIR:
 Due to persisting fragile security situation in Kashmir, government should form a special force
specific to the state akin to the rapid action force (RAF).
 This special RAF-like force would replace other forces present in the state.
 This force will work solely in Kashmir
 It should be sufficiently large in number and well-trained to deal with the kind of violent civil
protests seen there.
 It’s aim will be to know the people, their grievances to build confidence and trust between
themselves and civilians and collect intelligence including about their plans for future protests.
 This would go a long way in resolving grass-root civilian problems and grievances with the state
and the army.
PELLET GUNS
In April 2017,Home Ministry on Monday issued Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for
security agencies deployed in Kashmir.
In this it stated that pellet guns are here to stay, but security forces ill use pellet guns as
the second last resort. New rubber-based shots will be used instead of pellets.
Overview of Pellet Guns
 What are pellet guns?
o They are a form of non-lethal crowd control methods used by police and military
worldwide.
o A pellet is a non-spherical projectile designed to be fired from an air gun.
o A cartridge of a pellet gun contains few hundred pellets made of Lead. Pellets can be of
various shapes either like ball bearings or irregular. When fired, the cartridge disperses
few hundred pellets over few hundred metres depending on the type.

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 What are they intended for?

o Pellets guns are intended to injure individuals and cause pain. They are effective over
short ranges up to 500 yards but when fired from close quarters can be lethal,
particularly when sensitive parts like eyes are hit. Pellets can penetrate soft tissues.
 It’s usage in Kashmir:
o The use of pellet guns in the Valley is by no means a new phenomenon.
o 2010: They were first introduced in Kashmir in 2010 as the less-lethal alternative to
other weapons. That year, they injured over 1,500 people and caused loss of eyesight in
at least 90 others.
o Since then regularly, doctors in Kashmir have received patients with pellet injuries.
o 2016: Conservative estimates show that in 2016 alone, over 90 civilians were killed by
injuries caused by pellets and over 8,000 people were admitted in hospital with other
injuries including permanent blindness.
 Arguments for pellet guns use:
o Security forces argue that in Kashmir, protesting crowds have primarily involved agitated
citizens that weaponise stones against security officials.
 Arguments against pellet guns:
o A non-lethal, lethal weapon: According to critiques, the pellet gun is, deceptively, a non-
lethal, lethal weapon. The use of lead pellets increases the chances of a single shot
hitting more than one person and fatally injuring them.
 Each pellet is loaded with lead that, once fired, explodes into smaller pieces.
 These spread out randomly and haphazardly, increasing the chances of them not
only hitting by-standers but hitting a human body in more than one place.
 At close range, a single lead pellet is likely to hit a person in multiple places on
their body.
o Not recommended by BPR&D as non-lethal response: The 'Standard Operating
Procedures to Deal with Public Agitations with Non-lethal Measures released by BPR&D
in February 2011 after the 2010 violence in the state, does not discuss pellet guns, and it
fails to list them as crowd control weapons that can be used by the police. But CRPF
continues to ignore the SOPs issued in February 2011.
o Alternatives exist: The list of equipment and weapons for crowd control recommended
by the BPR&D include water cannons, teargas shells, stinger and dye-marker grenades,
tasers and lasers, net guns, and stink bombs. All of these are described as non-lethal
weapons that are effective in crowd control.
o View of SHRC: In 2013, the J&K State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) stated, the use
of pellet guns by government forces was a serious threat to life and a case of human
rights violation.
o Role of Pakistan: The injuries done by pellet guns are highlighted by Pakistan-based
state and non-state actors to raise the issue of Kashmir at international level and to
incite the locals.
 Way ahead?
o The government must seriously reconsider the use of pellet guns as crowd control
weapons.
o It must adopt SOP on violent crowd control that uses non-lethal weapons to disperse the
crowd and distinguish between violent and peaceful protesters and bystanders.
o And the long-term solution lies in removing the grievances of the people of the valley.

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GORKHALAND AGITATION
In June 2017, the people of Darjeeling and the adjoining Nepali speaking areas started
an agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland. It started in the aftermath of West
Bengal government’s decision to make Bengali language mandatory in all schools of the
state.
Gorkhaland region consists of Nepali-speaking people

of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and other hilly
districts of West Bengal.
The crisis in Gorkhaland has been brewing for many

decades and the stems from language. The first
demand for Gorkhaland was submitted in 1907 to
Morley-Minto Reforms panel. Since then from time to
time the region has witnessed various violent protests
for creation of separate state.
REASONS SIGHTED FOR CREATION OF GORKHALAND

STATE:
● Residents of this region have hardly any connection with the Bengali community which are
different in ethnicity, culture and language.
● Due to decisions like imposing Bengali language, residents of the region fear that their culture,
language and thus, their identity is under threat.
● Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has been a failure GTA is a semi-autonomous
because substantial administrative & fiscal authority has administrative body for the
Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills in
remained with the state government's district heads, i.e., district
West Bengal, India. It was created
magistrates. There is also constant Interference by the state
by West Bengal Legislative
government. Assembly by passing a bill in 2011.
● The region continues to suffer from backwardness. A smaller
state will ensure better governance and development.
OPPOSITION TO THIS DEMAND:
● If their demand is accepted, then other regions and groups like Bodoland Tribal Area Districts of
Assam and the Indigenous Peoples` Front of Tripura will intensify their demands for separate
state. We can’t betray the efforts of Sardar Patel of consolidating India.
● West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has clearly stated that “Bengal cannot suffer the
pain of yet another partition”.
WAY AHEAD:
● The agitation, if not resolved can create internal security challenges as Darjeeling is strategically
located close to Sino-Indian border. It can also create resentment to the Gorkha regiment
(majority of whom are recruited from this region). We should remember the mutinies of 1857
and revolt of 1946 (Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny).
● Thus, state government should resolve the underlying grievances by respecting their culture, not
imposing Bengali on them, trying out various political alternatives to ensure that GTA functions
smoothly and creating jobs so as to remove backwardness in the region.

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CHAKMAS & HAJONGS: CITIZENSHIP DEBATE

The Union government has decided to grant citizenship to Chakma & Hajong refugees.
Limited citizenship: However, they will be granted limited citizenship which means
 They will not get land rights

 They will not be recognised as a Scheduled Tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.
 They will have to apply for Inner Line Permits to reside in the State.
This will ensure that the rights of the indigenous people are not diluted.
About them:
 The Chakmas and Hajongs are

ethnic people. Chakmas are
predominantly Buddhists; Hajongs
are Hindus.
 They were inhabitants of the
Chittagong Hill Tracts of erstwhile
East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
who migrated to India due to:
o Submergence of their land
by the Kaptai dam on the
Karnaphuli River in the
1960s.
o religious persecution they
faced in East Pakistan as
they were non-Muslims.
 The Indian government set up
relief camps in Arunachal Pradesh
and a majority of them continue to
live there even after 50 years.
 An estimated 1 lakh Chakma and Hajong refugees are staying in India. When they came in 1964,
there were about 15,000 Chakmas and about 2,000 Hajongs.
Citizenship debate:
In 2015, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to grant citizenship to Chakma and Hajongs who had
migrated from Bangladesh in 1964-69. Following this, the Centre introduced amendments to the
Citizenship Act, 1955. The Bill is yet to be passed.
Arguments for granting them citizenship:
 Almost all present-day Chakmas and Hajongs were born in India thus should be citizens by birth.
They have been living in India for over 50 years.
 Settlement of (these) people in Arunachal will help in developing the unoccupied regions.
 Besides, the presence of stretches of vacant land along the border is strategically not desirable.
 Although Bangladesh government has laid out plans for the return of land to displaced natives,
most of them are unwilling to return, fearing the return of religious persecution.
Arguments against granting them citizenship:
Arunachal Pradesh government and its people led by All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU)
objects to their permanent settlement in Arunachal on following grounds:

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 It would affect the demographic structure of the state. Their growing population will outnumber
the local tribes such as Tangsa, Singpho, Khampti, Nocte, and Mishmi. Acc. to a 1998 white
paper, numbers of Chakma had increased by 300% from the original numbers in 1965.
 It would dilute the constitutional
safeguards for the indigenous
communities, pose a threat to their
identity and culture, and flare up
social unrest.
 Granting them citizenship goes
against the Inner Line Permit
provisions.
 It would also contravene various
laws such as the Bengal Eastern
Frontier Regulation, 1873, Scheduled District Act, 1874, Assam Frontier Tract Regulation, 1880
etc.
 Besides it puts pressure on the limited resources of the state.
THE CITIZENSHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2016
 The Bill, currently pending in Lok Sabha amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal
migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan,
Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship.
 Under the Act, one of the requirements for citizenship by naturalisation is that the applicant
must have resided in India during the last 12 months, and for 11 of the previous 14 years.
The Bill relaxes this 11 year requirement to six years for persons belonging to the same six
religions and three countries.
 The Bill provides that the registration of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders may be
cancelled if they violate any law.
NORTH EAST CONNECTIVITY: NAGALAND DECLARATION

Recently concluded North East Connectivity Summit at Kohima, Nagaland adopted ‘Nagaland
Declaration’.
Nagaland declaration:
It consists the following four points to ensure connectivity led development of the North East:
1. Setup a North East Implementation Agency: It will ensure timely completion of projects
including development of roads and highways, inland water transport, power, airports, etc.
2. Setup a High Powered NE Economic Forum: It would comprise of the Chief Ministers, ministers
and other relevant stakeholders and would act as a think tank for synchronising efforts for
development of the NE Region, especially with respect to connectivity.
3. Develop NE Ring Road: It will connect all the north eastern states which will run parallel to the
international borders and would enable border logistics in a way never before possible.
4. Connectivity led infrastructure revolution in the region: In order to attract investments, all
state capitals in NE need four-lane road connectivity. Also the internal infrastructure of a state
including roads, bridges and amenities centre have to be upgraded rapidly.

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North East Connectivity Summit:
 Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) with the support of Union
Ministries of External Affairs, Road Transport and Highways and Development of North East
Region has been organizing the Northeast connectivity summit since 2014 in different north
eastern states.
 Its objective is to catalyse economic connectivity and facilitate infrastructure intervention from
both the public and private sector.
INNER LINE PERMIT

Recently Arunachal Pradesh (AP) has launched the e-Inner Line Permit (eILP)
programme as a digital step for hassle-free entry of domestic visitors to the frontier
state.
ABOUT THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT:
● What was system in AP before it? Initially, Inner Line Permit was issued at Entry gates or at
designated places after payment of fees. That used to take time and create hassle for visitors
and travellers.
● What are the benefits of e-ILP? Now, Visitors can upload documents, photographs and fee
online. ILP will now have bar and QR codes for verification
o This system is hassle free and paperless. Thus, making it convenient for travellers.
o It will act as a boost for tourism potential of AP. North East has unexplored tourism
potential and this step is right direction in tapping that potential.
o It also has the potential to help in better understanding of hill state with mainland India.
About Inner Line Permit (ILP) System:
● Inner Line Permit is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to allow
inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected/restricted area for a limited period.
● The document is an effort by the Government to regulate movement to certain areas located
near the international border of India.
● ILP system is currently in operation in Mizoram, AP and Nagaland. Manipur had the system of ILP
but it was abolished in 1950.
INNER LINE PERMIT (ILP) vs PROTECTED AREA PERMIT (PAP)
There are two kinds of official permits prescribed by Government for entering into any area within
Arunachal Pradesh. They are, Inner Line Permit (ILP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP).
● ILP: Any Domestic tourist coming to the mentioned state has to obtain an ILP. It is granted as a
routine for the tourists and so it should not deter any tourist from coming to state.
● PAP: All the foreigners are required have the PAP for entering into the state. They can obtain the
PAP from All Indian Missions Abroad and Home ministry.
DAY LIGHT SAVING

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu reiterated northeastern state's decades
old demand for a separate time zone.
Daylight saving time
● During the summer months the sun stays visible for a longer time and sunset happens late in the
day. For this reason, certain countries advance the time by one hour near the start of summer
and put it back one hour during autumn.

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● The time during summer is called Daylight saving time (DST). In Europe it is called Summer
time.
What are the arguments in favor of a different time zone for north-east?
● Different time zones in North America and Europe have been in vogue for a long time.
● The difference in sunrise/sunset time between the eastern & western parts in India is two hours.
Since day breaks earlier in the east, a different time zone could allow people there to start
working sooner. This could lead to energy saving and productivity gains.
● Daylight Saving Time was observed briefly during the Sino-Indian war in 1962 and the Indo-
Pakistani wars in 1965 and 1971 respectively, so that energy consumption by civilians would be
reduced.
● In fact, tea gardens in Assam start work at 8am, continuing a practice started during the colonial
rule. This timing is so widespread that it is nick-named “Bagaan Timing” or the tea garden time.
In effect, tea gardens in Assam follow their own informal time zone.
What is the View of experts on it?
● Following three options have been examined by scientists in this regard over the years and the
underlying objective in all three case is ‘Energy Saving’.
o Creating two times zones in India,
o Introducing DST from April to September and
o Advancing the Indian Standard Time (IST) for the entire country by half an hour.
● After considering all the options, an expert panel constituted by the ministry of science and
technology in 2002 rejected the idea of DST as well as a different time zone.
● Arguments for rejecting DST
o Seasonal difference in daylight hours is marginal in countries closer to the equator than
those near the poles. The panel, therefore, concluded that different time zones may not
result in any benefits to northeastern states
o Having a different time-zone may pose difficulties for airlines, railways and
communication services.
● Arguments rejecting advancing of IST
o Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, have found that
by just advancing our clocks by 30 minutes we can save about 2.7 billion units of
electricity every year. Unlike DST, resetting of IST is going to be just a one-time affair.
o However, calculations done by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in 2011 pegged
the energy savings much lower.
● There is also a strong political dimension for not granting a separate time zone in the Northeast
given the region’s long history of self-determination movements.
What is the Way ahead?
● All the studies related to tinkering IST so far have focused on energy saving and technical
problems relating to essential services like trains, airlines and power grids. The issue of standard
time has a lot to do with the everyday life of people.
● Very little research has been done on societal aspects of a different time zone for the Northeast.
Thus pilot studies should be taken up for the same.
● Meanwhile, we can also experiment with daylight saving measures like advancing working hours
for government offices, commercial establishments and schools.
● This will give us data on likely impact of a different time zone for the Northeast.

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AFSPA
Developments in 2017
 Centre has decided to give up its power to impose Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in
Assam and Manipur. Now it will be the prerogative of State government to either continue or
revoke it in the 2 states.
 Following improvement in the law and order situation in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, the
Union home ministry has brought down the range of 'disturbed area' under the Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) 1958 in 2 states.
ABOUT AFSPA (ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWERS ACT):
● AFSPA is imposed in areas declared as disturbed under section 2 of the act.

● The ‘special powers’ of armed forces under Section 4 are:
o ‘Power to use force, including open fire’ at an individual if he violates laws which
prohibit (a) the assembly of five or more persons; or (b) carrying of weapons.
o ‘power to arrest’ without a warrant; (Under section 5 the Armed Forces have to hand
over the arrested person to the nearest Police Station “with the least possible delay”.
o ‘power to seize and search’ without any warrant any premise.
● These armed forces are immune from prosecution unless Union Government provides sanction
to the prosecuting agencies,
RECOMMENDATIONS OF BP JEEVAN REDDY COMMISSION:
● AFSPA should be repealed and its appropriate provisions should be inserted in the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
● Clearly define powers of armed forces.
● Establish a Grievance redressal mechanism in each district where the armed forces are
deployed.
ETHICS OF ARMED DRONES

'Reprieve US', a human right organized based in US, published a report titled “Drones and
Assassination”
History of ‘Immoral Weapons’
 New weapons, especially those that have allowed military personnel to kill from a safe distance,
have always been controversial.
 English Long bow: In the fourteenth century, French knights railed against the immorality of the
English long bow, which allowed a commoner to knock a knight off his horse at over 100 yards.
 Cannons: When cannon appeared on the battlefields of Europe, the Vatican imposed a ban of
excommunication on artillerymen.
 Submarines: In the early days of the First World War, the allies railed against the immorality of
submarines, which could sink ships without warning.
 Thus, it is important to realize that Drones are just the latest in a long line of weapons deemed
“immoral” by some and “necessary by others.”
Armed Drones
 Meaning: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), otherwise known as drones, are remotely-
controlled aircraft which may be armed with missiles and bombs for attack missions.

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 Definition: Drone is a land, sea, or air vehicle that is remotely or automatically controlled.
 Drone family: The drone family is not composed solely of flying machines. There are: terrestrial
drones, marine drones, submarine drones, and even subterranean drones. Any kind of vehicle or
piloted engine could, in principle, be ‘dronized’.
 UAVs/UCAVs: In Military jargon flying drones are referred to as ‘unmanned aerial vehicles’
(UAVs) or to ‘unmanned combat air vehicles’ (UCAVs), depending on whether the vehicle carries
weapons.
 Operating Drones:
o A drone can be controlled either from a distance by human operators (remote control)
or by robotic means (automatic piloting); present-day drones may combine those two
modes of control.
o Operators (‘pilots’) of drones sit in a control pod that can be thousands of miles away
from the action, and use a games-type controller to fly the craft and identify and attack
the target.
Present status of Usage:
 Since the 9/11 attack and subsequent "War on Terror," the United States has used drones on a
large scale to kill suspected terrorists in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iraq and
other countries.
Do You Know?
The first recorded use of attack drones occurred on July 15, 1849 when the Habsburg Austrian
Empire launched 200 pilotless balloons armed with bombs against the revolution-minded citizens
of Venice.
Argument in favour of their use
 Self-defence: Article 51 of the UN Charter permits armed force to be used in individual or

collective self-defence (from terrorists).
 Less collateral damage: According to U.S. Government, armed drones are far more precise than
other weapons systems, and therefore, do far less collateral damage.
o Collateral damage refers to deaths, injuries, or other damage inflicted on an unintended
target.
 Cost-effective: It reduces the need for ‘boots on the ground’ and thus prevents risking the lives
of their soldiers.
 Doesn’t fuel terrorism: The argument that drone strikes fuel terrorism rests on the dubious
assumption that terrorist attacks would diminish if the drone program ceased.
 Problem is faulty intelligence, not drones: Problem of killing innocent civilians is not the drones
themselves but the faulty intelligence upon which some strikes have been based.
Ethical Arguments against their use
 Asymmetric: One-sided remote warfare is massively asymmetric, with an attacker in a position

to kill an adversary without any threat to him/herself.
 Against right to Justice: Targeted killing by an armed drone against suspected non-state actors
in insurgences removes the right to justice as the human target gets deprived of legal hearing.
 Surrender: It is possible for a combatant to surrender in the field. It is unclear how he/she can
surrender in the face of a remotely piloted vehicle.

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 Continuous warfare: This ‘riskless war’ lowers the perceived cost which raises the worrying
prospect of entering a state of low cost continuous warfare. Once such a state is entered, it is
difficult to see how it could be exited from.
 Gaming mentality: The physical disconnect between pilot and field of action could lead to a
gaming mentality. This could create a moral buffer from the action that could result in a casual
approach to selection of and attack on targets.
 Loss of innocent civilian lives: According to a 2017 report “Drones and Assassination” published
by 'Reprieve U.S.' “for every intended target, an average of 28 innocent (unknown) lives are
being lost in drone strikes” due to target mis-identification.
 Societal impact: Frequent Targeted killings by drones to counter insurgencies has negative
economic, social and psychological effects on the civilian population – especially of young
children – which are of strong ethical and human rights concern.
 Hacking: Remotely controlled systems are also vulnerable to spoofing and hacking
 Creating more terrorists than it kills: Robert Grenier, the former head of CIA counterterrorism
centre, argue the US is "creating more enemies than it is removing from the battlefield".
 Where is valour? The remote warfare undermines traditional military values of honour and
valour.
Legal Arguments against their use
 International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is also known as the law of war and the laws of armed
conflict.
 It includes the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties,
case law, and customary international law.
 It is the legal framework applicable to situations of armed conflict and occupation and aims, for
humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict.
 IHL covers: (a) the protection of those who are not taking part in fighting, and (b) restrictions to
the means of warfare and the methods of warfare, such as military tactics.
 The increased use of robotics in conflict affects both of these issues in a fundamental way.
 There are concerns as to whether the IHL framework is sufficiently clear on the use of drones.
Concluding Remark
 History suggests that new weapons do not go away because people do not like them.
 There is a need for informed discussion on the legal, ethical and societal issues involved before
such weapons are developed.
 It is recommended that States reconsider this practice by limiting their use. In the past, states
have already done it in the case of anti-personnel mines and chemical and biological weapons.
 Also before any strike is taken, there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or
injured.
 But, apart from focussing on the morality of a weapons system (whether one killing machine is
more ethical than another), effort should also be made towards preventing conflicts so that
need to use them doesn’t arise.

Internal Security

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An Initiative of MADE EASY Group

INTERVIEW GUIDANCE PROGRAMME

Internal Security [1]

MAOIST INCIDENTS FEWER IN 2017

‘SAMADHAN’ FOR NAXAL VIOLENCE

 “S” for Smart leadership;

Internal Security [1]

 “A” for actionable intelligence;

[2] Internal Security

Internal Security [3]

[4] Internal Security

ARMED FORCES REFORM

This will be achieved by:

 Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.

 The first steps to restructure army are welcome.

Internal Security [5]

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORT ON MILITARY

 Poor allocation of funds:

INDIAN AIR FORCE: DECLINING SQUADRON STRENGTH

The Current Situation

[6] Internal Security

 Thus there is an immediate requirement for 11 more to meet the target.

To meet its targeted strength by 2027, following needs to be done:

Internal Security [7]

o HAL’s lackadaisical approach to the production of Tejas Mk.1 has to end.

JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES (JME)

[8] Internal Security

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP POLICY

Its objective is to reduce current dependence on

Internal Security [9]

PRIVATE SECTOR IN DEFENCE

[10] Internal Security

MAKE IN INDIA IN DEFENSE

Internal Security [11]

Steps taken in this direction

[12] Internal Security

ARMY BEING USED FOR CIVILIAN PURPOSES

Internal Security [13]

 Kalvari was built indigenously under a venture

 Kalvari can carry 18 torpedoes and travel

[14] Internal Security

 It is the first of the six indigenously-built Scorpene submarines.

Internal Security [15]

BRAHMOS AIR LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE (ALCM)

[16] Internal Security

INDIGENOUS WEAPONS TRIALS IN LAST THREE MONTHS:

(a) Cruise missile triad:

Internal Security [17]

(b) Enhanced Range:

(a) Enhancing accuracy:

 Originally scheduled to be operational by 2012, the BrahMos ALCM is heading to become a

JOINT DOCTRINE INDIAN ARMED FORCES

 Who prepared it? The Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff

[18] Internal Security

WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLE

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLES:

Internal Security [19]

b. Secondly, Physical fitness is of lesser importance in modern fighting. Nature of fighting is

[20] Internal Security

Internal Security [21]

WOMEN IN TERRITORIAL ARMY

[22] Internal Security

DRUG MENACE IN PUNJAB

Its key findings are: