Q.The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders to ferry arms / ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat.
How to approach: Decode the core assertion first, validate where it holds true, highlight contextual nuances or exceptions, and conclude with a balanced judgment.
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The rapid proliferation of low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, has introduced a highly challenging, asymmetrical threat vector along India's borders. Adversaries increasingly utilize these aerial platforms to smuggle weapons, narcotics, and explosives, bypassing traditional ground-based border defenses and posing a direct challenge to internal security.
Body
A. How UAVs Pose a Serious Threat
- Smuggling of Contraband: Drones are frequently used to drop payloads of automatic weapons, ammunition, and narcotics (especially in the Punjab and J&K sectors) to fund and arm local terror modules.
- Surveillance and Espionage: Equipped with high-resolution cameras, hostile UAVs conduct reconnaissance over sensitive military installations and border outposts.
- Kinetic Attacks: Drones can be weaponized with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to target critical infrastructure, as demonstrated by the 2021 attack on the Jammu Air Force Station.
B. Measures Being Taken to Tackle the Threat
- Deployment of Anti-Drone Systems: The Indian Armed Forces have deployed advanced anti-drone technologies featuring soft-kill (RF jamming, GPS spoofing) and hard-kill (laser weapons, kinetic interception) capabilities. This includes the DRDO-developed Indigenous Anti-Drone System (DADS).
- Integrated Border Surveillance: The Border Security Force (BSF) has upgraded border infrastructure with thermal imagers, acoustic sensors, and low-altitude radars to detect incoming aerial threats.
- Strict Regulatory Frameworks: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has implemented strict drone regulations, mandating 'No Permission, No Takeoff' (NPNT) compliance and establishing geofenced No-Fly Zones around strategic installations.
- Interagency Coordination: Joint task forces comprising the Indian Army, BSF, and state police forces ensure real-time intelligence sharing and rapid response to drone sightings.
- Technological Innovations: Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into air defense radars to distinguish small commercial drones from birds.
Conclusion
While India has made significant progress in developing anti-drone capabilities, the rapid evolution of UAV technology requires continuous innovation, enhanced domestic manufacturing of counter-UAV systems, and deeper international cooperation to secure India's airspace.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2023 (Question 2) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper III — Economy, Environment, S&T & Security → Internal Security, Cyber & Border Management |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 10 Marks • 150 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 7–8 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Comment: Express an informed, evidence-backed analytical viewpoint on the given observation or quote. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2023 GS3 (Internal Security)
How should I structure the answer for this UPSC Mains 2023 GS Paper III question on Internal Security?
This 2023 GS Paper III question carries 10 marks with a 150-word limit and uses the "Comment" directive. Decode the core assertion first, validate where it holds true, highlight contextual nuances or exceptions, and conclude with a balanced judgment. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words) and aim to finish within 7–8 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2023 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper III — Economy, Environment, S&T & Security under the syllabus module "Internal Security, Cyber & Border Management". You can explore all repeated questions from Internal Security in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Internal Security PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
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