Q.Raman is a senior IPS officer and has recently been posted as D.G. of a state. Among the various issues and problems/challenges which needed his immediate attention, the issue relating to recruitment of unemployed youth by an unknown terrorist group, was a matter of grave concern. It was noted that unemployment was relatively high in the state. The problem of unemployment amongst graduates and those with higher education was much more grave. Thus they were vulnerable and soft targets. In the review meeting taken by him with senior officers of DIG Range and above, it came to light that a new terrorist group has emerged at the global level. It has launched a massive drive to recruit young unemployed people. Special focus was to pick young people from a particular community. The said organisation seemed to have the clear objective of utilising/using them for carrying out militant activities. It was also gathered that the said (new) group is desperately trying to spread its tentacles in his state. A definite/reliable intelligence tip was received by the State CID and Cyber Cell that a large number of such unemployed youth have already been contacted by the terrorist outfit/group through social media and local communal organisations and other contacts. The need of the hour was to act swiftly and to check these elements/designs before they assume serious proportions. Discrete inquiries made by the police, through the Cyber Cell, revealed that good numbers of unemployed youth are very active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. On an average, many of them were spending 6 – 8 hours each day, using electronic devices/internet, etc. It also came to light that such unemployed youth were showing sympathy and endorsing the messages received from certain persons, allegedly the contact persons of that global terrorist group. Their social media accounts revealed their strong affinity to such groups inasmuch as many of them started forwarding anti-national tweets on their WhatsApp and Facebook, etc. It seemed that they succumbed to their ploy and started propagating secessionist ideology. Their posts were hyper-critical of the government’s initiatives, policies and subscribing to extreme beliefs and promoting extremism. A. What are the options available to Raman to tackle the above situation? B. What measures would you suggest for strengthening the existing set-up to ensure that such groups do not succeed in penetrating and vitiating the atmosphere in the state? C. In the above scenario, what action plan would you advise for enhancing the intelligence gathering mechanism of the police force?
How to approach: Identify every sub-question in the prompt, allocate dedicated sub-headings to each part, substantiate points with examples/data, and conclude with a forward-looking Way Forward.
Practice & AI Tools for This Question
Wrote an answer to this PYQ? Check it with Vision AI in 3 mins or generate custom mind maps.
Matched Topper Handwritten Answer Copies (8)
Open in 3D PYQ RealmSyllabus Point
- Ethical Dilemmas in Public Administration – Balancing law enforcement with rehabilitation.
- Role of Civil Services in Democracy – Maintaining law and order while upholding constitutional values.
Introduction
This case study centers on Raman, a newly appointed Director General of Police (DGP), who is confronted with the critical challenge of preventing the radicalization and recruitment of educated, unemployed youth by a global terrorist network. Operating through social media and local communal channels, this group exploits socio-economic vulnerabilities to propagate secessionist ideologies. Raman must act decisively to neutralize this threat to national security while simultaneously addressing the underlying issues of unemployment and social alienation.
Body
Stakeholders Involved
- Raman (DG of Police): The primary administrative authority responsible for maintaining state security, public order, and ethical policing.
- Unemployed Youth: Vulnerable, educated citizens targeted by extremist recruiters due to lack of economic opportunities.
- State Police Force: The law enforcement apparatus tasked with counter-terrorism, cyber-surveillance, and maintaining peace.
- Local Communities: Families and social groups vulnerable to communal polarization and radical narratives.
- Government Agencies: State departments responsible for economic development, employment generation, and skill training.
- Cyber Cell & Intelligence Agencies: Technical units responsible for tracking digital radicalization and online recruitment networks.
- Civil Society Organizations: Non-governmental bodies and community leaders essential for counter-radicalization and social integration.
A. Options Available to Raman
To address the immediate threat, Raman can deploy a combination of tactical and community-oriented options:
- Option 1: Enhanced Cyber Surveillance and Enforcement
- Action: Direct the Cyber Cell to intensify monitoring of social media platforms to track, flag, and block extremist content and secessionist propaganda.
- Collaboration: Partner with central intelligence agencies to identify and neutralize online recruiters and their localized networks.
- Option 2: Community-Based Counter-Radicalization
- Action: Engage with community elders, religious leaders, and local influencers to counter extremist narratives with messages of peace, unity, and constitutional values.
- Support: Establish counseling centers involving psychologists and community leaders to de-radicalize youth who have shown initial sympathy toward these groups, prioritizing rehabilitation over immediate criminalization.
- Option 3: Socio-Economic Engagement
- Action: Coordinate with state departments to organize job fairs, skill development workshops, and entrepreneurship drives specifically targeting vulnerable areas to address the root cause of unemployment.
B. Measures to Strengthen the Existing Set-Up
To prevent future penetration by extremist elements and preserve the social fabric of the state, the following systemic measures are recommended:
- Establish a Dedicated Counter-Radicalization Cell: Create a specialized unit within the police force focusing on early detection, psychological counseling, and the rehabilitation of radicalized individuals.
- Strengthen Community Policing (e.g., 'Mohalla Committees'): Build robust police-public partnerships to foster mutual trust, enabling early detection of suspicious activities and communal tensions at the grassroots level.
- Institutionalize Digital Literacy and Awareness Campaigns: Launch state-wide programs in educational institutions to educate youth on the dangers of online misinformation, fake news, and extremist propaganda.
- Inter-Departmental Coordination: Form a high-level task force comprising police, education, labor, and social welfare departments to monitor and support vulnerable youth demographics.
C. Action Plan for Enhancing Intelligence Gathering
To build a proactive and robust intelligence mechanism, Raman should implement the following action plan:
- Upgrade Cyber Cell Capabilities: Equip the Cyber Cell with advanced AI-driven tools for big data analysis to monitor open-source intelligence (OSINT) and detect patterns of radicalization on social media platforms.
- Revitalize Human Intelligence (HUMINT): Strengthen the network of ground-level informants within local communities, educational institutions, and communal organizations to receive early warnings of physical recruitment attempts.
- Establish a Secure Anonymous Reporting Portal: Launch a public digital platform where citizens, parents, or peers can safely report suspicious online recruitment activities or radical behavior without fear of retaliation.
- Capacity Building and Training: Conduct regular training programs for intelligence officers on emerging cyber threats, dark web monitoring, and psychological profiling of extremist recruitment tactics.
Conclusion
Addressing this complex challenge requires a multi-pronged, ethical approach that seamlessly integrates firm law enforcement with proactive counter-radicalization and socio-economic rehabilitation. Raman must safeguard national security while upholding the constitutional rights, dignity, and fair treatment of the state's youth. By fostering a transparent, community-aligned, and technologically advanced police force, the state can secure long-term peace, stability, and public trust.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2024 (Question 2) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude → Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 15 Marks • 250 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 11–12 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Analytical / Multi-Dimensional: Address all explicit sub-parts of the question with balanced arguments, factual illustrations, and a solution-oriented conclusion. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
Related & Repeated UPSC Mains PYQs (3)
Past UPSC Mains questions connected to this node in the 3D PYQ Realm knowledge graph.
In one of the districts of a frontier state, narcotics menace has been rampant. This has resulted in money laundering, mushrooming of poppy farming, arms smuggling and near stalling of education. The system is on the verge of collapse. The situation has been further worsened by unconfirmed reports that local politicians as well as some senior police officers are providing surreptitious patronage to the drug mafia. At that point of time a woman police officer, known for her skills in handling such situations is appointed as superintendent of police to bring the situation to normalcy. If you are the same police officer, identify the various dimensions of the crisis. Based on your understanding, suggest measures to deal with the crisis.
Ramesh is State Civil Services Officer who got the opportunity of getting posted to the capital of a border State after rendering 20 years of service. Ramesh's mother has recently been detected cancer and has been admitted in the leading cancer hospital of the city. His two adolescent children have also got admission in one of the best public schools of the town. After settling down in his appointment as Director in the Home Department of the State, Ramesh got confidential report through intelligence sources that illegal migrants are infiltrating in the State from the neighbouring country. He decided to personally carry out surprise check of the border posts along with his Home Department team. To his surprise, he caught red-handed two families of 12 members infiltrated with the connivance of the security personnel at the border posts. On further inquiry and investigation, it was found that after the migrants from neighbouring country infiltrate, their documentation like Aadhaar Card, Ration Card and Voter Card are also forged and they are made to settle down in a particular area of the State. Ramesh prepared the detailed and comprehensive report and submitted to the Additional Secretary of the State. However, he has summoned by the Additional Home Secretary after a week and was instructed to withdraw the report. The Additional Home Secretary informed Ramesh that the report submitted by him has not been appreciated by the higher authorities. He further cautioned him that if he fails to withdraw the confidential report, he will not only be posted out from the prestigious appointment from the State capital but his further promotion which is due in near future will also get in jeopardy. A. What are the Department options available to Ramesh as the Director of the Home Department of the bordering State? B. What option should Ramesh adopt and why? C. Critically evaluate each of the options. D. What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ramesh? E. What policy measures would you suggest to combat the menace of infiltration of illegal migrants from the neighbouring country?
With multi pronged strategy of the Central and State Governments especially in the last few years, the naxalite problem has been resolved to a large extent in the affected states of the country. However, there are a few pockets in certain states where naxalite problem still persists, mainly due to involvement of foreign countries. Rohit is posted as SP (Special Operations) for the last one year, in one of the districts which is still affected by the naxalite problem. The district administration has taken a lot of developmental works in the recent past in the naxalite affected areas to win the hearts and minds of the people. Over a period of time, Rohit has established an excellent intelligence network to get the real time information regarding the movement of naxalite cadre. To instill confidence in the public and have moral ascendancy over the naxalites, a number of cordons and search operations are being conducted by the police. Rohit, who himself was leading one of the contingents got a message though his intelligence source that about ten hard core naxalites were hiding in a particular village with sophisticated weapons. Without wasting any time, Rohit reached the target village with his team and laid out a foolproof cordon and started carrying out a systematic search. During the search, his team managed to overpower all the naxalites along with their automatic weapons. However, in the meantime, more than five hundred tribal women surrounded the village and started marching towards the target house. They were shouting and demanding the immediate release of insurgents since they are their protectors and saviours. The situation on the ground was becoming very critical as the tribal women were extremely agitated and aggressive. Rohit tried to contact his superior officer, IG (Special Operations) of the state on the radio set and on mobile phone, but failed to do so due to poor connectivity. Rohit was in great dilemma since out of the naxalites apprehended, two were not only hard core top insurgents with prize money of Rs ten lakhs on their heads, but were also involved in a recent ambush on the security forces. However, if he did not release the naxalites, the situation could get out of control since the tribal women were aggressively charging towards them. In that case, to control the situation Rohit might have to resort to firing which may lead to valuable loss of lives of civilians and would further complicate the situation. A. What are the options available with Rohit to cope with the situation? B. What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Rohit? C. Which of the options, do you think, would be more appropriate for Rohit to adopt and why? D. In the present situation, what are the extra precautionary measures to be taken by the police in dealing with women protesters?
More UPSC Mains PYQs on Ethics & Integrity (GS4)
Build comprehensive topical mastery across Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude by practicing these related UPSC Mains questions.
There is a technological company named ABC Incorporated which is the second largest worldwide, situated in the Third World. You are the Chief Executive Officer and the majority shareholder of this company. The fast technological improvements have raised worries among environmental activists, regulatory authorities, and the general public over the sustainability of this scenario. You confront substantial issues about the business’s environmental footprint. In 2023, your organization had a significant increase of 48% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the levels recorded in 2019. The significant rise in energy consumption is mainly due to the surging energy requirements of your data centers, fuelled by the exponential expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Al-powered services need much more computational resources and electrical energy compared to conventional online activities, notwithstanding their notable gains. The technology’s proliferation has led to a growing concern over the environmental repercussions, resulting in an increase in warnings. Al models, especially those used in extensive machine learning and data processing, exhibit much greater energy consumption than conventional computer tasks, with an exponential increase. Although there is already a commitment and goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, the challenge of lowering emissions seems overwhelming as the integration of Al continues to increase. To achieve this goal, substantial investments in renewable energy use would be necessary. The difficulty is exacerbated by the competitive environment of the technology sector, where rapid innovation is essential for preserving market standing and shareholders’ worth. To achieve a balance between innovation, profitability and sustainability, a strategic move is necessary that is in line with both, business objectives and ethical obligations. A. What is your immediate response to the challenges posed in the above case? B. Discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case. C. Your company has been identified to be penalized by technological giants. What logical and ethical arguments will you put forth convince about its necessity? D. Being a conscience being, what measures would you adopt to maintain balance between AI innovation and environment footprint?
“Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others.” — Swami Vivekananda
Global warming and climate change are the outcomes of human greed in the name of development, indicating the direction in which extinction of organisms including human beings is heading towards loss of life on Earth. How do you put an end to this to protect life and bring equilibrium between the society and the environment?
Mission Karmayogi is aiming for maintaining a very high standard of conduct and behaviour to ensure efficiency for serving citizens and in turn developing oneself. How will this scheme empower the civil servants in enhancing productive efficiency and delivering the services at the grassroots level ?
The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system. (150 words, 10 Marks)
“In Indian culture and value system, an equal opportunity has been provided irrespective of gender identity. The number of women in public service has been steadily increasing over the years.” Examine the gender-specific challenges faced by female public servants and suggest suitable measures to increase their efficiency in discharging their duties and maintaining high standards of probity.
Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2024 GS4 (Ethics & Integrity)
How should I structure the answer for this UPSC Mains 2024 GS Paper IV (Ethics) question on Ethics & Integrity?
This 2024 GS Paper IV (Ethics) question carries 15 marks with a 250-word limit and uses the "Analytical / Multi-Dimensional" directive. Identify every sub-question in the prompt, allocate dedicated sub-headings to each part, substantiate points with examples/data, and conclude with a forward-looking Way Forward. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words) and aim to finish within 11–12 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2024 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude under the syllabus module "Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude". You can explore all repeated questions from Ethics & Integrity in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Ethics & Integrity PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
How can I get my handwritten answer to this 2024 GS4 PYQ evaluated by AI?
Write your answer on standard UPSC margin sheets, scan it as a PDF or image, and click "Evaluate My Answer (AI)" on this page to open Acme AI's Vision Transformer evaluator (/upsc-answer-evaluation?subject=GS4). It evaluates your structure, directive alignment, diagrams/maps, and handwriting presentation in under 3 minutes with 99% human-examiner accuracy (20 free credits on signup).
Can I generate a custom mind map or Hindi model answer for this question?
Yes. Click "Generate Answer & Mind Map" on this page to open Acme AI's Answer Generator (/gen-ans) with this exact 2024 GS4 question pre-filled. You can generate custom topper-grade answers with embedded Mermaid flowcharts and mind maps in either English or Hindi.
AI-Powered Mains Mastery Suite
Turn Passive PYQ Reading into Active Answer Writing
Evaluate your handwritten UPSC Mains answers in 3 minutes with Vision AI or generate custom model answers with mind maps.
AI UPSC Mains Answer Evaluation
Practice writing any PYQ on paper and upload your handwritten scan (PDF or image) for instant, rubric-aligned UPSC examiner feedback.
- Direct Pixel Vision AI (Not Flat OCR): Evaluates your handwritten diagrams, maps, flowcharts, and spatial presentation
- 99% Human-Examiner Accuracy: Pinpoints missing dimensions, directive-word drift, and value-addition opportunities
- All Papers & 18 Optionals: Covers GS 1–4, Essay, Anthropology, PSIR, Sociology, Geography, History & more in English & Hindi
- Annotated Copy + Topper Benchmark: Visual margin ticks, remarks, and matched topper copy comparisons
AI UPSC Answer Generator & Mind Maps
Generate topper-grade model answers for any UPSC PYQ, current affairs editorial, or mock question—complete with visual mind maps and flowcharts.
- Embedded Mind Maps & Flowcharts: Automatically builds visual diagrams you can replicate in the exam hall for +1.5 extra marks
- Strict Directive & Word Discipline: Calibrated for 150-word (10M), 250-word (15M), and 1000-word Essay structures
- Committee, SC & Data Citations: Enriches body paragraphs with 2nd ARC, NITI Aayog, Constitutional Articles, and SDG hooks
- Auto-Matched Topper Copies & PYQs: Every generated answer links to similar past UPSC questions and ranker scripts
Join the Acme Mains Program (AMP 2027 — 45 Tests) or 1-on-1 Personal Mentorship with Avinash Sir.