Untitled

A brief overview of the subject - [5:06 PM]

Topics to covered:
Linkages between the development and spread of extremism.
Prevention of money laundering.
Linkages between organized crime and terrorism.
Basics of cyber security.
Role of non-state actors creating challenges to India's security.
Role of media and social media in creating challenges to internal security.
Border management.
Role of ESA in India's internal security.
Various security agencies and their mandate.
Source:
Class notes
Vision material
Newspaper
Previous year questions
Linkages between the development and spread of extremism
Extremism refers to a situation where an individual or a group possess extreme
view and thoughts without the scope of entertaining the views of others.
People with an extremist ideology do not refrain from taking extreme actions
including resorting to violence to achieve their objectives.
Extremism can manifest itself in various forms including left-wing extremism,
religious fundamentalism, Nazism, communalism, and insurgency.
Development is a dynamic concept that can mean different things to different
people but in a general sense, it refers to improvement in the living conditions in
society.
It has multiple dimensions including social, economic, and political development.
Even though development is perceived as a positive term but a flawed process of
development may have unwarranted consequences as well.
For example- If development is not inclusive it may have disastrous effects on the
marginalized sections of society.
How extremism results in underdevelopment-
 Destruction of physical infrastructure for example destruction of schools and
hospitals by Naxalites.
Foreign investment suffers.
It ends up destroying the demographic dividend and the social capital.
It hurts trade and commerce in such areas as tourism.
It creates a threat to various people responsible for bringing development to
these areas for ex-NGOs, civil servants may not want to serve areas affected by
extremism.
It results in increased expenditure on the defense sector which ultimately affects
spending on the social sector.
The state uses force to overcome extremism often resulting in collateral damage
and therefore establishing a vicious cycle of violence in these areas.
How underdevelopment leads to extremism-
The displacement of the tribals due to the developmental projects has resulted in
dissatisfaction and disgruntlement.
Towards the Indian state resulting in pushing them towards extremism.
Denial of social justice to the marginalized sections of society has also supported
extremism.
Denial of recognition for the ethnic and linguistic groups leads to an identity crisis
resulting in rebellion and violence.
Unemployment and lack of constructive engagement for youth have resulted in
them getting absorbed into extremist movements.
Conclusion- A set of scholars believes that the only way to break this vicious cycle
is to tackle extremism with the use of force and development would follow.
On the other hand, a set of experts believe that without addressing the cause of
underdevelopment in society it would be impossible to challenge extremism.
The government of India has therefore adopted a two-pronged strategy of
addressing the developmental concerns as well as extremist challenges in these
areas.
LWE/Maoism/Naxalism in India
The poor peasants and tribals in Naxalbari were suffering due to exploitation at
the hands of rich landlords, money lenders, and government officials.
This discontent was channelized by the communist revolutionaries led by Charu
Mazumdar against the so-called 'class enemies'.
In the summer of 1967, a violent movement was initiated in Naxalbari which
resulted in the killing/violence against several landlords and moneylenders.
 This initiated a cycle of violence in the form of retaliation by the State and further
retaliation by the radical elements.
This was the beginning of the violent left-wing extremist movement in India.
Even though the situation in Naxalbari was brought under control in a matter of
few weeks, it resulted in igniting the imagination of several other groups in
different parts of the country.
Naxal demand- Naxalites believe in the idea of overthrowing the democratic
state and replacing it with a communist regime along the lines of Mao's China.
They believe in the use of extreme means of violence inspired by the idea of
"revolution through the barrel of a gun".
As per reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Naxalism has claimed the lives
of more than 13000 people in the last two decades including a large number of
security personnel and civilians.
This movement which originated from one district gradually expanded to more
than 180 districts by 2009.
The region by Naxal violence is often termed as "red corridor".
The former rural development minister had mentioned that the red corridor
extends from Tirupati to Pashupati.
Extend of Naxalsim- This movement in initially basis was largely based on
agrarian and class issues.
But soon drew inspiration from several conflicts within Indian society.
Initially, the movement had centered in West Bengal but gradually spread to less
developed areas of rural, central, and eastern India including Andhra Pradesh,
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
Even though Naxalism is largely active in the remote, tribal, and rural areas of the
country.
Several attempts have been made to expand it to urban areas as well.
As per the latest reports, the number of total affected districts and the most
affected districts has come down to 70 and 25 respectively.
From the peak of 180 districts in 2009.
Causes for rise of Naxalism
Economic factors- widespread poverty and economic inequality in Naxal-affected
regions.
For example, the aspirational district program of NITI Aayog which focuses on
bringing development to the most backward districts of India consists of 90% of
the districts affected by Naxalism.
 These areas are mineral-rich regions which have led to the entry of a large
number of mining companies resulting in the displacement of the local
population and in absence of any rehabilitation they have developed a negative
attitude towards the Indian State.
A large number of tribes have been displaced due to the setting up of various
large-scale industries and developmental projects in these areas.
In several areas, locals have a feeling that the benefits of these projects have not
been passed on to them.
These regions rank poorly in various development indices and forces of
Globalization have exposed them to development elsewhere leading to further
discontent.
Many of these areas suffer from the lack of basic amenities for example in
Dantewada only 26% of the population has access to tap water.
Even the health and educational facilities do not compare to other parts of the
country.
Political causes
The tribal communities have not been provided adequate participation and role in
the governance of these areas
Several provisions of Schedule 5 have not been implemented properly which has
further alienated the tribals from the Indian state
Often the interest or the voice of the marginalized have been ignored at the
expanse of the industrialist and the rich and the powerful
Political conflicts/ bickering between the ruling and opposition parties in some of
these states has delayed the implementation of various developmental projects
[ * UPSC 2013- Article 244 of the Indian Constitution relates to the administration
of scheduled areas and tribal areas. Analyze the impact of non-implementation of
the provisions of the Fifth schedule on the growth of Left Wing extremism ]
B K Bandhopadhyay committee
In 2006, the Planning Commission set up an expert group headed by D
Bandopadhyay to point out how Naxalites filled the vacuum created by the lack of
governance
The report argues that land-related factors play an important role in the growth of
Naxalism, as seen in the land to the tiller policy of the Naxalites.
Environmental causes
 Tribal communities are dependent on natural resources such as rivers, wetlands,
and forests for their survival which have been degraded and destroyed due to
mining and polluting industrial activities further pushing the tribals to a marginal
position
Social causes
Tribals have been subject to exploitation and discrimination by the rich land-
owning class which has sown the seeds of further discontent.
The tribals often feel that the state agencies are biased toward the rich and the
powerful.
In states like Bihar, caste conflicts between the backward castes and traditionally
dominant castes have led to the emergence of local militia resulting in conflicts
and violence in these areas
Administrative causes
The government has failed to reach these areas creating a vacuum of any formal
government machinery. This void has been filled by the Naxalites who have set up
their parallel institutions such as Health care facilities, courts, etc.
Example- Budha Pahar area, Jharkhand- Government established their presence
Popular schemes for the development of these areas have taken too long to be
designed and even longer for their implementation. Even if the schemes are
implemented the benefits tend to reach only those who are socio-economically
advanced and not the ones who need them the most
The propaganda machinery of the Naxalites has been able to convince the locals
that the state has failed to provide for them and their only hope is the Naxalites
In the past, posting to these areas was considered as punishment postings often
resulting in inefficient and incapable officers getting deployed in these areas
resulting in poor governance
Vested Interests and external factors
The unholy nexus between the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, Mining mafia, and
the Naxalites who want to perpetuate/ promote Naxalism for their private gains
China has been involved in providing overt and covert support to Naxalism in
India. For example- After the naxalbari movement the Chinese termed it as "The
spring thunder" and expressed hope for its further expansion in the west of India.
In 2009, as per MHA, more than 40 Maoists in India received their training in
Nepal with the support of the Chinese
Approach or Strategy of the Indian state to deal with Naxalism
Indian state used a two-prong approach
Developmental approach
Political empowerment- PESA 1996, and the Forest Rights Act 2006 were
enacted in order to support democracy at the grassroots and to address the
discontent among the people.
Economic empowerment- Establishment of a District mineral development fund
to support the developmental initiatives in areas where mining is carried out,
Special infrastructure schemes. The planning commission initiated the integrated
action plan where the district, police, and Forest administration would decide the
developmental agenda in a coordinated manner for these areas.
Various states government have initiated a no. of schemes to improve the basic
infrastructure such as Schools, health centers, Panchayat Buildings, etc.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to provide connectivity to the Tribal
hamlets by building the road infrastructure
The Aspirational Districts Program of the NITI aayog in order to bring
accelerated development to these areas. A dashboard has been created to track
the progress of these districts on various parameters. A joint secretary-level officer
in the central government would be a prabhari officer of a particular district to
ensure greater accountability
Eklavya Model residential schools have been set up to provide quality
education to the tribal students
Some of the state governments have taken a number of steps for the skill
development of the Youth. For example- the Chattisgarh government started the
"Choo lo Asmaan Program"
The civic action plan in which developmental programs such as seeds
distribution, cloth & utensils distribution, and Medical health camps have been
organized by the security forces for the local communities to win their confidence
A Media Action plan has been initiated with the objective of conducting Nukad-
Nataks/ street plays and folk performances to create awareness about the
government schemes and to combat the propaganda machinery of the Naxalites
Law & Order Approach
The scheme for the Modernisation of Police forces which is an umbrella
scheme run by the central Government to provide financial assistance to the
states for the Modernization of the state police and upgrading their capabilities
Security-related expenditure scheme- Under which the central government
reimburses the state for expenditures made toward security-related activities
 States have set up special Anti-Naxal forces. For example- The Greyhound of
Andhra Pradesh, The Black Panthers of Chattisgarh, and the COBRA battalion of
CRPF
Recent deployment of UAVs to carry out surveillance in the Naxal Affected areas
Setting up of a joint command for the CRPF in the states affected by Naxalism
Chief Ministers conference with the Union Home Minister as the chairperson, to
evolve a common strategy for combating Naxalism
Setting up of Multi-agency centers at the central level and the state level for the
collection of actionable intelligence
The SAMADHAN strategy is a one-stop solution for left-wing Extremism. It
includes the strategy of the government from short-term to long-term policy
formulation to ensure a uniform approach to combat Naxalism
Critique of the Indian state's approach
Lack of coordination between the states. For example- State police machinery has
been reluctant to share intelligence inputs with each other
Lack of coordination between the state police and the central security forces
Inadequate training and combat capabilities of state police forces in Maoism-
affected states. Naxalites are well-versed in the terrain which gives them an upper
hand in the armed struggle
Lack of coordination between the civilian administration and security
establishment. Often an area that has been cleared of the Naxalite presence has
faced the apathy of civilian administration in bringing rapid development to these
areas. As a result, these areas have fallen back into the lap of Naxalites. On the
other hand, the infrastructure developed by the civilian administration has not
been provided adequate protection by the security forces making developmental
schemes a wasteful effort
The surrender policy of different states does not focus on rehabilitation in
mainstream society which results in the failure of surrender policies.
Andhra Pradesh Model on combating Naxalism
Andhra Pradesh suffered massively from the menace of Naxalism during the
1980s and 1990s. In order to deal with this, the state government evolved a
comprehensive policy on both the law and order front and the developmental
front
Developmental Front
 The government launched or initiated a revamped scheme for the PDS under
which food grains were provided to the most vulnerable in the naxal-affected
districts
The state government focused on the rapid socio-economic development of the
Naxal-affected areas by improving the road connectivity and health facilities.
The government introduced Schemes such as Jala Yagnam to provide access to
water in these areas
A massive program of land reforms was introduced in the form of the
digitalization of land records and the reduction of discretionary powers in the
hands of lower bureaucracy
Law and order approach of Andhra Pradesh
The state government set up elite Anti-Naxal forces in 1989 by the name of
Greyhounds
The members of this force were trained in Jungle warfare and counter-Maoist
strategy and carried out several surgical operations which were highly successful
The state created civilian vigilante groups which were formed through an
attractive surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy
As a result between 2003-12 more than 800 Naxalites were killed in various
operations forcing them to retreat or to surrender
Way Forward
Political solutions
The tribal Advisory council should be made functional so that they can advise the
governor in the exercise of their powers with respect to Schedule 5 areas
Forest Rights Act of 2006 has been a tool of Bureaucratic exploitation and several
reforms are required in its implementation
There is a need to bring in a string of anti-corruption legislation to deal with
corrupt officials and politicians in these areas
The government should initiate a sincere dialogue with the Marginalised groups.
For this purpose, they may seek the help of civil society organizations and social
activists working in Naxal-affected areas by taking a Dialogue approach, the
government can create opportunities for the rebels to join the mainstream and
resolve the issues in a democratic manner
Administrative/ Governance solutions
Only the officers with desired capabilities and motivation should be posted in the
Naxal-affected areas and special incentives should be provided to them
 The local bureaucracy should be made sensitive to the problems of the poor and
efforts should be made to involve the community in developmental efforts
Law & order solution
The state government needs to upgrade the capability of state security forces by
providing them with special training in Guerrilla warfare
A model Surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy should be designed by the center to
address the lack of uniformity in the approach of the states
Factors for the rise of insurgency in Northeast
Historical factors:
Most parts of NE India were not governed directly by the British. As a result, they
could never be integrated into the rest of the country resulting in a sense of
alienation towards the Indian state.
Geographical factors:
The rugged terrain and topography of NE make it suitable for guerilla warfare.
Porus borders and neighbouring countries make it difficult to keep a check on the
insurgency.
Many insurgent groups have training camps and safe havens in Myanmar, Bhutan,
and Bangladesh.
Porous borders have contributed to organized crime in the region which has also
contributed to the rise of insurgency by providing the required funds for the
insurgency.
The development of physical infrastructure is a challenging task resulting in the
physical isolation of the northeast from the rest of the country.
Socio-economic factors:
The lack of industrialization in the region has led to massive unemployment
creating a shortage of avenues for constructive engagement of the youth.
The lack of basic infrastructure and facilities has led to disgruntlement in the
Indian state.
Political factors:
Several ethnic groups in NE believe that their political aspirations have been
suppressed by the union and the state governments.
Even Schedule 6 of the constitution has not been implemented in the same
manner as it was intended.
As a result, ethnic groups use violence as a means to assert their political identities.
The ethnic diversity of the northeast coupled with the shortage of resources has
led to inter-ethnic rivalry to establish control over scarce economic resources.
 There are several existing boundary disputes between various states in the
northeast which has further added to the tensions in the region.
Psychological and cultural factors:
The mainstream media have ignored the issue of northeast India in the country
and along with the elements of racial discrimination, it has created the problem of
psychological isolation from the rest of the country.
NE India has witnessed large-scale violence for more than seven decades creating
a culture of violence in the region where resorting to arms and ammunition for
the resolution of conflicts has become a norm.
External factors;
India has alleged the involvement of the Chinese state in supporting the
insurgency in the form of arms, ammunition, training, funds, and a safe refuge for
the insurgents.
Nagaland
Separate flag and constitution.
Ongoing conflicts between the tribes in Nagaland.
NSCN IM and NSCN K are the major insurgent groups.
Support of China.
Naga club>> NNC>> NSCN.
Paresh Baruah hiding in China.
They demand greater Nagalim.
Need to develop and bring economic reforms.
Insurgency in Manipur:
Attributed to the insurgency in Nagaland.
Geography>> Meiti tribes in the valley.
Control politics and economics of the state.
Nagas and Kukis Vs Meitis.
Issue of Kukiland.
Lack of employment.
High-handedness of the security forces.
Presence of insurgent groups>> effect on Manipur.
More than 40 ethnic groups to establish dominance in the region.
The problem of Jhum cultivation.
Mizoram:
started in 1960s.
Part of Assam>> Mautam famine >> locals died in large numbers.
Mizo national front>> led by Lal denga.
Mizo accord in 1986 with the government of India, Mizoram state, and Mizo
national front.
A separate state for Mizoram.
Lal Denga became CM.
Assam:
First movement ked by ULFA.
The Second was led by NDFB.
Another was led by Bodo liberation tigers.
AASU>>Movemnet to throw out outsiders.
Issue of outsiders like Bengalis taking jobs etc.
issue of illegal immigration.
1979>>Insurgent group>> ULFA.
Assamaese wants self-determination.
Bodos also started their movement.
All Bodo student unions were formed.
Demand for a separate state of Bodoland.
The Assam accord was signed in 1985.
issue of citizenship.
Date of entry varying from the 60s, 70s, and after 1971.
NRC conducted as per SC order.
2002-03>> cooperation agreement in Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Multiple peace agreements like the 3rd-Bodo accord with the Bodos.
Gave more autonomy to the Bodos.
Tripura;
Majorly Bengali dominated state.
insurgent groups>> separation of Tripura from India.
2015>> AFSPA removed>> normalcy retuned.
Manik sarkar able leadership.
Weeding out insurgents and bringing development to Tripura.
Meghalaya:
Immigration of outsiders.
the trouble of Khasis vs Garos.
Separet state of Garoland.
Only small parts have ASFPA.
Largely peaceful.
 Arunachal Pradesh:
Recemntly>> concern insurgency from neighbouring states.
safe havens for insurgents.
Handouts are to be provided for the same.
Consequences of insurgency in NE
Resulting in the loss of lives for civilians and the security forces creating an
atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the region.
In some of the states, insurgents have targeted physical infrastructure such as gas
pipelines which has stalled the further development of the region.
In certain places, they have targeted projects such as the building of railway lines
and roads.
Threats to the tourism industry in the region further diminish the prospects of
constructive engagement for the youth.
This affected the plan of linking India with SE Asia through NE.
Civilians have faced economic hardships as prices of essential commodities have
skyrocketed in the past due to obstruction on the highways and extortion by
insurgent groups.
Steps were taken by the government to overcome insurgency:
Law and order:
Enactment of laws such as UAPA and AFSPA to strengthen and support the efforts
of security forces in the region.
GOI has also formed a model and comprehensive surrender-cum rehabilitation
policy that has been adopted by several states.
Counter-insurgency operations are led by ably trained and capable forces such as
Assam rifles.
Introduction of technology in the form of a comprehensive integrated Border
management system to secure the border areas.
Introduction of helicopter services to aid the logistics supply for the security forces.
Action against insurgent groups by Indian security forces with other groups like
security forces of the neighbouring countries.
For ex- operation All Clear of 2003.
Developmental efforts:
Setting up of ministry of development of NE region to provide a focussed
approach for the development of the region.
Several infrastructure projects with the help of neighbouring countries such as the
trilateral highway and the kala dan multi-modal highway project.
 Renewed focus on national bamboo mission and national horticulture mission.
Promotion of Border haats>> economic activities in the far-flung border areas
and to strengthen cultural ties with the neighbouring countries.
Renewed Look east policy.>> access to SE Asian markets>> For the products
from NE.
Massive emphasis on spreading awareness about the distinct and diverse culture
of NE India through various courses and programs in universities and organizing
cultural festivals.
Reasons for decline in the insurgency in recent years:
Several groups were involved in insurgency for a long time and gradually lost
momentum.
The local population has gotten fed up with the ongoing violence in the region
leading to declining in the popularity of insurgent groups and their leaders.
Disagreements and internal conflicts between the insurgent groups have affected
insurgency significantly as the government's intelligence units have been
successful in creating strife between these groups.
The Indian government has been successful in cutting off the external support for
these groups by establishing deep democratic ties with the neighbouring
countries including Bangladesh, Myanmar, etc.
The government has been reasonably successful in resolving insurgency through a
dialogue approach with the insurgent groups.
Way ahead;
Enhance connectivity with NE India to integrate it with the rest of the country.
Satisfying the political aspirations of various ethnic groups by strengthening
micro-democratic institutions such as Gram sabha.
Sustainable economic development by promoting nonpolluting industries like
horticulture and eco-tourism.
Greater accountability for the officers serving in the region to promote efficiency
in governance.
Young and dynamic officers should be encouraged to serve the region by creating
an incentive mechanism.
Better coordination between states and central security forces to promote
effective counter-insurgency.
Gradual repeal of draconian laws such as AFSPA to win over the hearts and minds
of the locals.
Speeding up the execution of developmental projects.
 Setting up various centres of excellence for professional and higher education.
Promoting greater cultural interaction with the rest of the country through the
introduction of programs on the culture and traditions of the northeast.
Upgrading the security and surveillance architecture in the border areas to
prevent illegal immigration and cross-border insurgency.
Deeper diplomatic ties with the neighbouring countries to tackle the insurgency
successfully.
Money Laundering
Black money>> tax evasion.
The money is made to appear legal.
Earned from proceeds of crime>> also called dirty cash.
Objective:
To take the money is to take the money away as far as possible from the source.
To ensure that you can hide the criminality which led to that money.
To evade taxes.
To gain legitimacy for the illegally earned money.
Types of crimes:
Human trafficking.
Narco trafficking
Arms trafficking.
abductions, contract killings.
Process of money laundering:
3-step process:
Placement:
Refers to placing the proceeds of crime into the formal financial system.
Riskiest stage in the process as the chances of detection by the authorities are
very high.
It might be done by breaking up large amounts of cash into less obvious smaller
sums which are deposited directly into a bank account.
This is often termed smurfing.
Can also be done by purchasing a series of instruments such as cheques, bank
drafts, etc which are then collected and deposited into 1 or more accounts at
another location.
Some tools>>::
Exchanging of funds into foreign currencies through a private exchange dealer.
 Smurfing.
Purchasing money orders, bank drafts, etc.
Buying luxury assets, gems, watches, yachts, etc.
Layering;
In this stage, money is taken through multiple transactions so it becomes
impossible to detect the origins of the money.
Money launderer engages in a series of continuous conversions or movement of
funds through numerous accounts to distance them from their source.
At times, money may be spread through numerous accounts across the globe,
especially in those countries that don't cooperate in anti-money laundering
investigations.
Some tools>>:
Cross-border transfer of money.
Hawala transactions.
Investment in cryptocurrencies.
Sale and purchase of luxury assets.
Integration:
The launderer reintroduces the money into the legitimate economy after mixing it
up with the legitimate money earned through legal sources.
Tools used:>>
Generating false export and import invoices.
Setting up shell companies.
Round-tripping of funds.
Generating false loans.
These steps may not always be in sequence.
Hawala transactions
An informal way of transferring funds across different locations without any actual
physical movement of money.
Parallel remittance of money.
Hawala agents are involved in this transaction.>>settle the payments to move
them from 1 place to another.
The system has been prevalent for a long time in South Asia and operates largely
on basis of trust.
Effects of ML:
Economic impacts;
 It distorts policy making and it becomes difficult to set the policy rates as there is
no proper estimation of money in the market.
Leads to a supply-demand mismatch in the economy resulting in inflation.
Loss of revenue to the government, therefore, affects the potential of the
government to spend on developmental schemes.
Adverse impacts on the reputation of financial institutions such as banks in an
economy.
This may distort the trade deficit as launderers often use proceeds of crime for
purchasing imported luxury items.
Distorts the level playing field for smaller businesses that are run legitimately,
therefore killing the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.
It may lead to volatility in the capital markets.
Societal Impacts:
Promotes inequality in society.
Encourages criminal activities including terrorism.
Social sector spending suffers.
This leads to lower standards of principles and values in society as the ends justify
the means.
Political and administrative impact;
Incentivizes corruption.
This leads to the criminalization of politics and increases the role of money power
in politics.
Promotes activities such as paid news, fake news, etc.
Anti-money laundering regime in India;
Prevention of money laundering Act.
Beami transactions act 1988.
Income tax act of 1961.
Foreign exchange management act 2000.
NDPS act 1985.
Prevention of money laundering Act 2002
Act was brought into force in 2005.
It has given powers to the Enforcement Directorate to keep a cheque on the
activity of money laundering.
The act has the following important components:
Defines the offence of money laundering.
 Defines certain offences under the IPC as scheduled offences which are a
prerequisite for the offence of ML.
Powers of search, seizure and arrest have been provided to the ED to investigate
cases of money laundering.
ED can also attach properties earned through proceeds of crime.
Imposes a penalty of not less than 3 years and up to 7 years along with a fine of
up to 5 lac rupees.
Setting up of special courts and an adjudicating and an appellate authority to
entertain representations against the attachment of a person's property.
Reciprocal arrangements to promote cooperation with other countries on anti-
money laundering investigations.
International conventions to prevent Money laundering (ML)
UN convention against transnational organized crimes.
UN convention against corruption.
International Convention for suppressing the financing of terrorism 1999.
India has become a full member of FATF.
Institutional measures:
PMLA>> the enforcement directorate has been set up which functions under the
control of supervision of the department of revenue.
ED is the nodal agency>> for the implementation of PMLA.
To coordinate with other countries of the world>> Financial intelligence unit.
SEBI has been provided with regulatory powers to keep a check on the capital
markets for any suspicious ML-related activities.
RBI has been given regulatory powers over the bank for the same purpose.
The banks need to follow certain compliances under chapter 4 of PMLA.
Global steps to tackle ML:
Vienna convention of 1988.
EGMONT group>> international network of various financial intelligence units.
UN global program against ML 1997.
Setting up of UNODC.
Wolfsberg anti-ML principles.
Asia-Pacific Group on ML.
International ML information network.
Basel statement of principles.
Challenges associated with overcoming ML in India:
 Enforcement agencies have not been able to match up with the speed of growing
technology that has facilitated ML.
Vested interests of politicians, bureaucrats, and criminals have prevented the
desired investigation and enforcement in ML cases.
Increased competition in the banking sector has forced the banks to lower their
guard and compliance with various regulations including the KYC norms has
become weak.
The functions of various enforcement agencies often overlap with each other
resulting in a lack of coordination and weak enforcement.
Various countries have strict financial and banking secrecy laws that allow the
creation of anonymous accounts and prohibit the disclosure of information that
compromises the fight against ML.
Newer challenges in dealing with money Laundering
The emergence of newer forms of exchange of money like cryptocurrency.
Emerged as a major threat in promoting money laundering activities.
According to a European think tank, around 2.8 bn dollars of illicit funds were
laundered in 2019 alone which was 1 bn dollars more than the previous year.
Lack of regulation and understanding of these newer technologies has provided
the much-needed anonymity for money laundering activities.
Online transactions have become a common phenomenon and security agencies
face significant challenges in locating laundering-related transactions.
The development of modern means of communication has made it easier to
transfer money from one part of the world to another.
Certain countries which are tax havens have based their economies on the idea of
assisting in tax evasion and money laundering.
Setting up of shell companies has become a common phenomenon and since
they lie outside the sovereign borders of the countries, it is difficult to enforce the
laws effectively.
MONEY LAUNDERING
How to tackle Money laundering?
1) Since money laundering is a threat to the financial institution of a country, the
financial institutions must be compelled to report all suspicious transactions to
the concerned authorities.
2) The employees of financial institutions should be trained to spot potentially
suspicious activity.
 3) The banking institution can combat money laundering by enforcing the KYC
norms and maintaining a detailed account of transactions for records.
4) Public awareness is also a must among the masses as they do not understand
the unintended consequences of availing services such as Hawala.
5) Prosecution under PMLA requires a multi-pronged approach which would not
be possible without collaboration between various agencies such as the CBI, ED,
and the State police.
6) International ramifications of money laundering.
7) Cooperation between the member States of FATF is necessary.
8) Countries must consider signing mutual, legal assistance treaties to help
each other.
9) Simply enacting anti-money laundering laws is not enough and the
enforcement agencies must be upgraded to keep pace with the changing
dynamics of this offense.
ORGANISED CRIME
It refers to the pursuance of performing criminal activities as a business.
As per MCOCA - Organised crime refers to any unlawful activity by an individual
or an organization or an individual on behalf of an organization by the use of
violence and other means with the objective of gaining monetary benefits or
undue economic or other advantages for himself or any other person.
Essentially it involves a group of people who carry out criminal activities for
monetary gains.
Examples- Drug trafficking, kidnapping, cyber crime, killings, etc.
Characteristics of Organized Crime:
1) Use of violence.
2) Monetary Objectives.
3) Strict hierarchy in the organization.
4) Division of work.
5) Clandestine nature of working.
6) Strict membership criteria and loyalty.
ORGANISED CRIMINAL GROUPS (OCGs) Vs TERROR GROUPS (TGs)
Differences:
1) Terror groups have political objectives whereas organized criminal groups have
monetary objectives.
 2) Terror groups are excessively using violent means, and Organised criminal
groups use limited violence to achieve their objectives.
3) Terror groups (TGs) have an antagonistic relationship with the State whereas
organized criminal groups try and work parallel to the State and prefer to get in
conflict.
4) TGs seek media attention whereas OCGs try and avoid media attention as much
as possible.
Similarities
1) Both use criminal means to achieve their objectives.
2) Both try and cause damage to society and to the economy.
LINKAGE BETWEEN OCGs & TGs
1) Coexistence
In this the OCGs and TGs both exist simultaneously in specific geography but have
no working relationship with each other.
Since both of them have diverging objectives they tend to maintain distance from
each other.
2) Cooperation
In this, both groups provide support to each other and establish a formal linkage.
e.g., the OCGs may help TGs in the following ways for example- logistic support in
the form of stolen vehicles, forged documents, sim cards, mobile phones, etc for
carrying out terror attacks.
Support in the form of arms and ammunition.
Funding for terror operations.
Access to trafficking routes for terror purposes for example - the 2004 Madrid
attacks were carried out by Al-Qaeda with the help of OCGs from East Europe.
The Bombay blasts of 1993 Bombay blasts were carried out by Lashkar-e-taiba
with the support of D-company.
TGs supporting OCGs - they provide training in the use of arms and ammunition.
TGs provide security and refuge to organized criminal groups in case of adversity.
3) Confluence
It is a situation in which the TGs and the OCGs start performing the activities of
one another.
e.g., the Taliban controls a large part of Poppy production in Afghanistan similarly
the IS is involved in the selling of oil from oil wells in Iraq and Syria on the black
market.
REASONS FOR GROWING PROXIMITY B/W TGs & OCGs
 Globalization has allowed greater interaction between them facilitating a working
relationship between the two.
The spread of technology has also promoted interaction between the two.
The global war on terror and the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan
dried up the funding for the terror groups and as a result, they had to rely on
OCGs for their survival.
TGs required the laundering of funds for various purposes which could be done
by the OCGs.
Effects
It has acted as a force multiplier making it difficult for security agencies to
crack down on them.
It has acted as a second life for terror groups and made it further difficult for
security agencies to counter terror financing.
Cracking down on OCGs has become difficult as they enjoy the patronage and
protection of the TGs.
TGs & OCGs w.r.t INDIA
Insurgency in North East:
Activities such as narco-trafficking, and trafficking in human beings and wildlife
(rare species) are rampant in some of the North Eastern States and have been
provided protection by the insurgent groups.
Insurgent groups are often involved in activities such as extortion and abductions.
The OCGs support the TGs to move to and fro between India and Myanmar.
It has been reported that some of the former insurgents are involved in organized
criminal activities nowadays.
Naxal-affected areas:
Naxal groups are often involved in extortion and threatening public officials.
They provide patronage and protection to the illegal mining activities carried out
by the Mining mafia.
Further, a large part of Cannabis production and trade is controlled and
supported by the Naxal groups
Kashmir
In Kashmir terror organizations are supported through external funds and do not
rely upon organized crime for their survival.
The TGs may avail of the services of the OCGs for other purposes such as:
1) Providing support in the form of raising funds
2) Radicalization of the youth
 3) Finding new recruits,
4) Spreading propaganda, and
5) Planning & executing terror attacks.
e.g., Jammat-e-Islami was banned by the government for its support of militancy
and for acting as an overground face of the terror organization.
CHALLENGES IN DEALING WITH OGs
Inadequate Legal framework:
Only a few States have enacted specific legislation to deal with organized crimes
and even those States which have laws have certain flaws.
The present provisions under the IPC are inadequate to deal with the challenges
posed by OCGs.
Weak enforcement agencies-
The enforcement agencies lack the capability to combat organized crimes due to
poor training and a shortage of arms and ammunition.
Lack of coordination among various agencies such as the CBI, the NCB, and the
State police has diluted the efforts in combating the OCGs.
Even though several States have set up special crime cells to combat Organized
crimes a lot more is desired on this front.
Growth and technology:
There has been a massive increase in cyber fraud and crimes and the enforcement
agencies lack capability at the present to deal with such issues.
For example in 2021- Illicit transactions using cryptocurrencies were estimated at
$14 Billion.
Vested interest:
An unholy nexus exists between criminals, bureaucrats, and politicians which has
made it difficult for enforcement agencies to take strict action against the OCGs.
The enforcement agencies often find it difficult to obtain proof against the leaders
of these organizations due to their strictly hierarchical nature.
The lack of coordination between international agencies and domestic
enforcement entities has further added to the problem.
In an era where transnational organized crime has become common.
Glorification of organized crimes and organized criminals in media and cinema
has resulted in young people getting attracted to these organizations.
WAY AHEAD
The center may enact a model law that may be adopted by the States after
making suitable amendments.
 Organized crime is not a problem of a single nation and therefore must be dealt
with through a concerted global response.
There is a need to introduce reforms with respect to electoral funding so that
politicians can stop providing patronage to criminals in society.
Sensitization of popular media and cinema with respect to the portrayal of
organized criminals.
Strengthening border management practices to curb the cross-border movement
of OCs and TGs
India should consider enacting a law to regulate the use of cryptocurrencies in
India so that their usage for terrorist financing can be restricted.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Definition:
It is defined as the grouping of interactive web 2.0 internet-based applications
and websites that facilitate the sharing of ideas and information by people.
Examples- Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Role of social media in India's internal security:
1) Promoting peace and law and order in society.
It has enhanced the reach of the security agencies to the people of the country
the citizens which have in turn bridged the trust deficit between the citizen and
the government.
2) It has emerged as a strong tool of community policing across the world.
For example- the Boston police department used social media effectively during
its investigation of the Boston Marathon bombings of 2013.
3) The police used Twitter to keep the public informed about the Status of the
investigation, to calm their nerves, and to correct the mistaken information
provided by the press, etc.
4) Social media can help investigation agencies in their work for example -the
London police effectively used Social media for carrying out investigations during
the London riots of 2012.
5) Open-source intelligence has become a powerful tool to find information and
evidence as well as to track down missing and wanted persons.
6) It has emerged as a powerful tool in the hands of security agencies to manage
perception and counter the propaganda of extremists.
7) It may be used as a powerful tool to provide feedback to the government and
security agencies.
 Maharastra police initiated social media labs to monitor the activities on social
media websites.
8) It includes a dedicated set of personnel who proactively look out for the youth
prone to radicalization and monitor posts that may incite communal tensions.
Mumbai police have set up a cyber forensics lab to aid the investigation of
cybercrime.
Challenges posed by social media to internal security-
1) Polarization of society Dividing people on various issues has reduced the
scope of civilized debate on various burning topics.
Excessive polarization in society is undesirable as it erodes democratic principles
such as free speech.
2) Spread of fake news, rumors, and click bates are spread virally with the aim
of creating mischief and nuisance in society.
For example- During COVID -19 fake news became a common phenomenon that
ended up people costing their lives.
In 2013 the Muzaffar nagar riots were sparked by fake clips spread over the
internet.
In 2012 the riots in London were organized with the help of social media.
3) Social media is used for inflicting mental trauma on individuals, especially
women.
Crime such as sexual harassment and bullying has become a common
phenomenon.
The presence of obscene and unregulated content in the form of pornographic
images has let an adverse effect on the psychology of children.
4) Terror organizations have established a strong presence on social media
and are using it for various activities such as radicalization, spreading propaganda,
recruitment, and even planning terror attacks.
5) Privacy concerns have also emerged as seen in the Cambridge Analytica issue.
6) Cyber and financial frauds are carried out with the help of social media.
Challenges posed by the media:
The sensationalization of national security issues:
Media often sensationalizes issues that create panic among policymakers and
political leadership.
Example: As seen in the case IC 814 hijacking.
News channels have often been involved in irresponsible coverage of anti-terror
operations.
 Example: The coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and anti-terror operations
almost led to jeopardizing the entire operation.
During the surgical strikes conducted on NSCN, the media agencies acted
irresponsibly.
The media ended up publishing photographs of the entire team involved in the
operation.
Irresponsible coverage of communal conflicts:
Media agencies deliberately tried to establish the identity of individuals involved
in communal conflicts to further divide society.
News agencies are often involved in spreading fake news and rumors.
Rather than verifying the information and busting the myths.
Reporting on sub judice matters:
Media trials on cases that are under legal trial declare a person as guilty as per
their commercial interest.
This undermines of rule of law and subverts the authority of courts in the country.
Dramatization of NEWS:
News is often portrayed as a drama that aids in further spreading the goals of the
terror outfits.
Irresponsible coverage of victims of terror attacks and heinous crimes.
Paid News:
It has become difficult to differentiate between genuine and paid news.
Criminals often seek the help of news agencies to whitewash their image so that
they can make an entry into public life.
It promotes the criminalization of politics and the glorification of criminals.
The positive role played by the media in promoting Internal Security initiatives
Projection of Indian values and principles on the global stage.
The incident of the shooting down of Pakistan's navy airplane after the Kargil
War of 1999.
In this incident, the Indian media played a seminal role in highlighting the Indian
perspective.
Often the Indian media played a crucial role in busting the fake news spread by
extremists and anti-social elements.
Media has played an important role in de-escalating the conflicts that spread due
to communal tensions and polarization in society.
Best practices of media regulations across the world:
In the United Kingdom:
 BBC has provided specific guidelines for the coverage of incidents related to
terror, war & other similar kinds of emergencies.
Example: These guidelines suggest and prohibit the use of specific words during
the covering of such incidents.
Media agencies have also provided directions to cover the events in such a way
that it did not perpetuate trauma among the viewer of the news.
According to these guidelines the victims of terror crimes, the victims of terror
crimes should not be made to undergo personal interviews.
And attempts should be made to address their fears and concerns rather than
aggravate their anxiety.
Canada also laid down a code of ethics for radios and news channels.
USA: The Patriot Act enacted after the 9/11 attacks gave overriding powers to
the government during such emergencies where the state can take strict actions
against those agencies that failed to abide by the directions provided during such
situations.
Basics of Cyber Security
Definition of Cyber Security
According to the Information Technology Act (ITA), 2000 cyber security refers
to securing computer devices, networks & the information stored from
unauthorized access, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
India's Vulnerability to Cyber Threats:
As per the NCRB India reported a jump of more than 11% in cybercrime in the
year 2020.
In fact, cybercrime increased by over 4 times from 2016 to 2020.
As per a report 68% of organizations in India deal with ransomware.
India is among the top 5 targets of cyber attacks in the Asia-Pacific region
particularly in the case of cyber espionage.
The cyber threats to the financial organization in 2022 "Reports have expressed
concerns with respect to India's cyber security preparedness.
Cuber crime caused a loss of 1.25 lakh crores in 2019 alone.
India's internet penetration has gone up from just 4% in 2007 to 45% in 2021.
This has put a sizeable population at risk of cyber crimes with requisite cyber
security infrastructure.
India's renewed emphasis on e-governance has also exposed the citizens and
governance architecture to various cyber threats.
The various cyber threats facing India
It refers to those crimes that are conducted with the help of cyberspace.
In a cybercrime, the target network may be a computer device or a computer
network
Examples of cyber crimes:
Cyberstalking, denial of service attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, hacking,
child pornography, phishing, or vishing.
Cyber terrorism: It refers to the use of cyberspace by terror organizations for
terror purposes.
One may even call it a convergence of cyberspace with terrorism specifically it
refers to unlawful attacks or threats of attacks against computer network
devices or the information stored on them to intimidate or coarse the
government or its people in furtherance of political & social objectives.
To qualify as cyber terrorism an attack should either result in violence against the
persons or at least cause enough harm to generate terror.
Example: Attacks against the critical infrastructure of the country may be termed
as an act of cyber terrorism.
The definition of cyber terrorism has been provided in Section 66 (F) of the IT
Act 2000.
Why is cyber terrorism preferred by the terror outfits
It is comparatively cheaper than traditional terror methods.
It provides greater anonymity and therefore lesser chances of tracking down the
real identity of the terrorists.
The scale of violence that can be achieved is much larger than the traditional
terrorist methods.
It has huge potential to cause widespread disruptions in the economy.
Example: A cyber terror attack may disrupt electrical power grids, emergency
services, and airport traffic.
All the mentioned activities have significant potential to instill terror in society.
Cyber terror attacks can be carried out remotely without physical presence.
Example: In 1998 the LTTE bombarded the Sri Lankan embassy with over 800
emails a day overwhelming their capacity.
Cyber Warfare: It refers to the use of offensive action by a nation against others.
It has become a preferred mode for the countries to cause damage to the
adversary States to further their strategic objectives.
 Example: US and Israel are alleged to have developed a virus called Stuxnet which
infested and jeopardized the functioning of the Iranian nuclear program.
In May 2020 a Chinese hacking group stole certain Intellectual Property Protected
information from the USA & European companies.
In 2020 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Viper malware was deployed in
Ukrainian systems.
In 2012 more than 10,000 email accounts associated with the Ministry of Home
Affairs have been found to be compromised.
Characteristics of Cyber Crime:
They can be committed to the use of technology alone and therefore one needs
to be highly skilled to perform such crimes.
There are no geographical limitations.
Collecting evidence and proving liability in court is an extremely difficult task.
The scale of the crime is far greater as compared to conventional crimes.
The cyber security architecture of India
CERT-IN: A nodal body prepared to deal with cyber attacks. Further sectoral
CERTs are also prepared.
NCIIPC: National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Structure.
Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (IC4): Suppose to provide policy
response to cyber threats.
Cyber Swacchta Kendra: For clearing the botnet and malware from the
computer and devices.
National Cybercrime Reporting Center: This caters to take complaints related to
cybercrime with special emphasis on cyber crimes against women and children.
Information technology Act, 2000 (05:09 PM)
The IT act of 200 was aimed at giving legal sanctity to e-contracts and regulating
online transactions, It was only in 2008 that an amendment to this law introduced
provisions related to cyber threats.
Some of the important provisions of this act are as follows:
a) Section 43-A: Private companies are responsible for handling the sensitive
personal information of their users.
b) Section 66-B: Relating to the offence of child pornography.
c) Section 66-D: Identity theft.
d) Section 66-E: Denial of access.
e) Section 66-F: Cyber terrorism.
Shortcomings of the IT Act,2000 (05:28 PM)
 Crimes are evolving very rapidly in cyberspace but commensurate changes have
not been made in the law. For example, Ransomware was unheard of in 2008, But
today it is a menace. We have failed to bring the required change in the law.
Another problem with this act is that this law does not talk about the procedure
to be followed in case of trial.
At present this law lacks on the procedural front and the prosecution agencies
have to rely upon archaic procedural laws such as the Indian evidence act.
Provisions related to data protection are minimal and there is an urgent need to
enact a standalone law for data protection.
Despite the changes made in 2008, The enforcement agencies are still not capable
enough to enforce the provision under the law.
IT Rules,2021
Handouts will be provided, Please refer to them.
National cyber security policy,2013
Please refer to Vision IAS's value-added material.
Challenges in securing India's cyberspace
Legal challenges
India does not have a dedicated procedural law concerning IT offences, We have
to rely upon archaic procedural laws which are not effective for the trial of such
offences, The Bureau of Indian standards has laid down comprehensive guidelines
concerning the collection and analysis of the evidence but it has not been
provided with any legal backing.
The last set of amendments to the IT act was made in 2008. There are a few
offences and crimes that have not been defined in the law making it difficult for
security agencies to catch hold of cyber criminals.
Institutional challenges.
Several institutions have been set up for coordination and effective enforcement
of cyber security mechanisms. But the lack of coherence between these
institutions has resulted in a lack of accountability and the duplication of efforts.
Infrastructural challenges
India imports more than 70% of its telecom equipment requirement making the
cyber security apparatus vulnerable to the bugs introduced at the manufacturing
stage.
Most forensic labs cannot carry out effective investigations into cybercrime.
At present most tech companies in India store their data in servers located outside
India which makes it difficult for security agencies to get access to these data.
 India spends a very small percentage of its GDP on R&D in cyberspace, which has
affected our preparedness to combat cyber threats.
Human resources aspect-related challenges.
The police agencies lack technically trained staff to enforce the law effectively.
India does not have an adequate number of cyber security professionals to
combat the threat of cybercrimes.
Policy related challenges
The national cyber security policy, of 2013 policy is outdated and there is a need
to form a comprehensive cybersecurity doctrine to ensure effective coordination
between private agencies and the government.
Way ahead
Setting up cyber crime cells in each district of India.
The hiring of technically trained manpower in the government agencies for the
effective enforcement of the laws.
There is a need to bridge the gap between academia and the industry to upgrade
the capacity to combat cyber threats.
The Gulshan rai committee has recommended setting up a separate agency to
deal with data breaches, Stringent penalty provisions should be made to deter
individuals and organizations from misusing private data.
The data server must be located in India as possible and a copy of the data should
be saved locally in India. For Example, The RBI and MCI have already issued
detailed guidelines on this aspect.
India should enact a comprehensive cybersecurity doctrine that should guide and
motivate the actions of various enforcement agencies and private data collection
entities in India.
Various securities agencies and their mandate
Issues associated with the state police forces
Human resources-related issues
A large number of vacancies in the state police forces.
222/lakhs population is the world average but India is having less than 120.
Forces are heavily deployed for VVIPs' security.
The recruitment techniques are outdated and unscientific.
The techniques and processes of the training institutions are not according to the
needs of the 21st century. Example: Less emphasis on cyber security etc).
Career progression in the state police forces is very poor therefore lack of
motivation.
 Operational and Infrastructural issues
a) Shortage of arms and ammunition, According to a report by the BPRD state
police forces have more than 30% deficiency in vehicles. Additionally, CAG has
found a shortage in weaponry as well. For example, Rajasthan had a shortage of
75% of the required.
b) Most of the forensic labs are either outdated or understaffed.
c) Excessive interference in the day-to-day functioning of the police by the
political executive.
d) Poor quality investigation due to the lack of training, As a result, the conviction
rate in India is one of the lowest in the world.
e) There is no specific mechanism to register complaints in case of misconduct by
police officials.
f) The appointment postings and transfers are often driven by political
considerations and therefore compromise the independence of the police.
Structural issues
a) There is no separation between the investigations and the law and order wing
of the police and as a result.
b) As a result, accountability is diminished due to conflict of interest, Not only that
since both are different tasks they both require separate skill sets.
c) The MOSPI has highlighted that there is a significant underreporting of crimes
in India, This means that either the citizens are afraid to approach the police or
the police deliberately try to suppress the cases as their performance is judged on
this parameter.
d) Indian police is top and bottom heavy which has resulted in a shortage of
officials at a crucial position in the middle hierarchy.
e) Policing is a state subject and therefore even if the reforms are suggested they
are not adopted uniformly across the country.
Reforms (Read them selectively)
Prakash Singh case
Malimath committee reforms
Recommendation of Soli Sorabjee committee
National police commission 1&2
2nd ARC
Intelligence agencies
Colonial institutions like Intelligence Bureau, It is responsible for the collection of
Domestic intelligence under MHA.
 But in 1962, There was a massive failure of IB so the Birth of Research & Analysis
wing(Brainchild of Rameshwar Nath Kao) was under PMO.
In 2004, the National Technical Research organization was set up to collect
technical intelligence, under PMO.
Handouts will be shared(Refer to them)
Issues and challenges associated with the functioning of Intelligence agencies
a) The Functions of these agencies have not been delineated properly resulting in
duplication of efforts and accountability issues.
b) Intelligence agencies are at turf war with each other compromising their
efficient functioning.
c) These agencies especially the IB are often misused for political purposes.
d) These agencies do not have any legal oversight and are controlled purely by
the executive resulting in a lack of accountability.
e) Several reports have pointed out the shortage of workforce in these agencies,
Not only that they do not have enough technical experts and rely upon generalist
police officers for their functioning.
Reforms (07:54 PM)
a) Intelligence agencies must be provided with the legal backing to ensure
accountability to the legislature. A similar practice has been followed in the case
of MI 6 of the UK and the CIA of the USA.
b) Reforms should be introduced in the training and recruitment process to attract
the best talent to these agencies. Vacancies should be opened up for technical
experts instead of relying upon the state police or the IPS.
c) There is a need to establish a single authority to control all the intelligence
agencies which would improve coordination in their functioning. We may consider
setting up a separate ministry of intelligence or providing supervision powers to
the national security advisor.
ssues and challenges associated with Central Armed Police Forces
1. Operational challenges:
States have become overdependent on CAPF to provide a response in case of a
breakdown of law and order
It can be attributed to the inability of states to upgrade the capacity of the state
police to deal with such challenges as a result CAPF is not able to get enough
time to rest and upgrade its capacity between two deployments
The lack of coordination between the CAPF and the state police forces has also
posed a significant challenge resulting in the ineffective functioning of both
 In the case of border guarding forces, the deployment of multiple forces on the
same border has led to chaos and confusion
2. Human Resource related challenges:
CAPFs are extremely overburdened with work and there is understaffing across
the hierarchy and ranks. A part of this can be attributed to the over-reliance of
states on the CAPF.
Often the security personnel in the CAPF have been denied leaves for a very long
time due to the overburdened nature of the force
They are not only overburdened with work but work in extremely stressful
conditions. The suicide rate in the CAPF is among the highest in the security
forces which reflects the stressful work environment in the organization.
These forces have relatively poor promotional avenues as compared to the IPS
and the armed forces which has a demotivating effect
There have been instances of para-dropping of IPS officers as Director General
(DG) of these forces, which has a demotivating effect on the rank and the files of
these agencies
These forces have one of the highest attrition rates among security agencies. For
example, between 2010 to 2013 more than 42,000 personnel resigned from the
CAPF
3. Infrastrustucal challenges:
The CAPF personnel face the problem of poor quality food, medical facilities, and
accommodation which has a deflating effect on their motivation levels
CAPF toils under hard conditions and has often complained of a shortage of
weaponry and arms in their functioning
Border Management
Border management as a term is different from border security.
If border security refers to the task of protecting the territory or the borders of the
country from hostile elements such as traffickers, infiltrators, and terrorists; border
management as a term includes apart from border security, the development of
border areas so as to make the borders a tool to promote cultural and economic
cooperation with the neighboring countries.
One may therefore say, that border management as a task is performed by the
security agencies and the administrative agencies in the area
Issues and challenges associated with border management:
Too many border guarding forces have been deployed on the same borders.
For example, Assam Rifles, ITBP, and SSB have different SOPs (standard operating
procedures) and have been deployed in the vicinity of each other which leads to a
lack of uniformity and coordination in their functioning
It also leads to accountability issues
The Kargil Review Committee has suggested the adoption of the "One Border One
Force" principle
There exists no formal institutional mechanism to share intelligence inputs among
the border guarding forces
The border infrastructure in India remains to be severely underdeveloped which
has resulted in an asymmetry of infrastructure e.g. Indo-China border
Even the BRO (Border Road Organisation) is overstretched beyond its capacity to
develop the infrastructure in the border areas
In recent times, the government has allowed the BRO to outsource its operations
to private agencies for the execution of the projects
India does not have natural borders with most of its neighbors resulting in
difficulties in guarding the border areas
The porous border with the neighboring countries makes these areas a hotbed for
insurgency and trafficking, not only that India is present in the vicinity of some of
the most disturbed regions of the world resulting in spill-over to India's territory
External state actors have also played a major role in promoting instability in the
border areas due to vested interests
Lack of trust between local communities and the security agency has resulted in
support for hostile forces in these areas
Effects of poor border management on India's internal security:
Illegal immigration across five decades on the Indo-Bangladesh border has
resulted in demographic inversion in some of the North-Eastern states which has
in turn led to conflicts between different communities and created a law and
order problem
Poor checks on borers have resulted in growing nexus between the insurgent
groups and the OCGs (organized criminal groups)
The slow pace of economic development has frustrated the local communities and
as a result, they have not been aversed to joining hands with elements inimical to
India's security
India faces a large influx of FICN (Fake Indian Currency Notes) from the border
areas which has a d disastrous effect on India's economy
 Porous borders are used by the insurgent groups for to and fro movement
making it difficult for the security agencies to catch hold of them
Narco and arms trafficking is prevalent in the border areas causing substantial
damage to India's interest
Role of External State Actors in creating challenges to India's internal security:
Bangladesh:
Illegal immigration from Bangladesh has been a matter of concern, as it has
resulted in demographic inversion and created an identity threat in some of the
states such as Assam and Tripura
Bangladesh has been an important source and destination for human trafficking
which has posed significant challenges to security agencies in India.
It has been a safe haven for a number of insurgent groups which operate in North-
East India
Bangladesh is a destination for illegal cattle smuggling which has an adverse
effect on India's economy and often resulted in unwanted conflicts in India
Growing fundamentalism in Bangladesh has a spillover effect in India, which has
resulted in the radicalization of the youth in the border areas
The issue of settling down of Rohingyas has evoked different emotions in India
and Bangladesh and created tensions between the two countries
The growing proximity between China and Bangladesh is a matter of concern for
India
China has access to Chittagong port which has the potential to threaten India's
supremacy over the Indian Ocean region.
Myanmar:
The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar has created a massive headache for the Indian
government
The intake of Rohingya refugees has made India vulnerable to communal clashes
as well as has put significant pressure on India's already overstretched resources
The free movement regime along the border has been misused by the insurgents
and OCGs for trafficking purposes. This problem is further added to as Myanmar is
part of the Golden Triangle
Political instability in Myanmar has helped insurgent groups such as NSCN
(National Socialist Council of Nagaland) have their training camps in Myanmar
and often seek refuge for themselves in the country
Nepal:
Nepal has been a source of fake Indian currency notes into India and because of
the open border with Nepal the movement of organized criminals and militants is
relatively easy
There have been increased attempts to the radicalization of youth along the
border areas, not only that, several terror organizations in India have a close
linkage with various main-stream groups in Nepal
The increasing proximity and investment of China in Nepal is also a matter of
concern for India
Pakistan:
State-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir and support to various terrorist groups
across the country
Pakistan has been actively involved in drug trafficking, especially in border areas
of Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The influx of FICN from Pakistan at a large scale poses a great threat to India's
economic sovereignty
The all-weather friendship between Pakistan and China has been a concern for
India e.g. Chinese veto on the designation of terrorists such as Maulana Masood
Azhar has security implications for India
The placement of thousands of Chinese troops in the POK which is a disputed
territory is also a matter of concern
China:
Cyber warfare led by Chinese groups has caused significant damage to India's
economic interest
It continues to provide ideological and logistical support to the Maoist movement
in India
Chinese attempts to dump cheap Chinese goods in the Indian market have
impacted India's manufacturing capabilities
Covert support by the Chinese to the insurgency in Northeast India
Multiple incursions by the PLA in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh are a matter of
worry for India
The Chinese attempts to build dams over the Tsangpo river may have disastrous
consequences for India in future
Sri Lanka:
The civil war and the Tamil crisis in Sri Lanka has negative effects on domestic
politics in India
 For example, the assassination of the former Prime Minister of India was related to
the civil war in Sri Lanka
Chinese presence at the Hambantota port poses a challenge to India's role as the
net security provider in the Indian Ocean region
The killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy due to the confusion about
the use of Katchatheevu Island has escalated tensions between the two countries
Afghanistan:
The resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan may have grave security implications
for India, as the Taliban has close linkages with various terror groups
It provides strategic depth to Pakistan and various anti-India forces in Pakistan
Afghanistan is central to the global narco-trafficking nexus which is a grave threat
to India
The presence of external forces in Afghanistan is also a security concern for India
Terrorism
Terrorism is a form of extremism with rampant use of extreme forms of violence in
order to achieve certain socio-political and economic objectives
It is not just targetted towards the security agency as in insurgency, but the
targets could be the civilian population as well
No uniform definition of terrorism has been accepted due to a lack of global
consensus
Causes of terrorism:
Social and political injustice
Terrorism is used as a strategy in asymmetric warfare
Religious indoctrination and fundamentalism lead to intolerance towards other
community
Globalization and increasing inequality
Reasons for the spread of terrorism:
Indoctrination and radicalization of individuals coupled with poverty
Advancement in the field of information and communication
Porosity of borders
Linkages between terrorist and organized criminal groups
Developmental deficit and violation of human rights
Types of terrorism as per 2nd ARC:
Ethno-Nationalist Terrorism e.g. NSCN
Religious terrorism
Ideology-based terrorism e.g. Naxalism
State-sponsored terrorism e.g. Hizbul Mujahideen
Narco-terrorism e.g. Drug cartels in Latin America