MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS
Q1. What threat does terrorism pose to national security? Discuss the steps that must be taken to combat this threat.
GS III – Internal Security
Introduction:
- Terrorism is a serious threat to national security since it kills people, incites fear in the public, damages the tourism sector, discourages foreign investment, damages the economy (as terrorist attacks result in the destruction of property and enterprises), and jeopardises national security.
- A comprehensive approach including several stakeholders, including the government, political parties, security services, civil society, and media, would be necessary to combat the threat of terrorism.
The following components of a strategy are essential:
- Political agreement: To enable effective integration and seamless information sharing between different security and intelligence services, a national agreement on the essential elements of a planned strategy for internal security is required.
- Socioeconomic development and good governance are essential for preventing the population’s disenchantment with radicalism and terrorism. Development efforts and their practical implementation on the ground require transparent, accountable, and corruption-free administration at all levels.
- Building capacity: The process of building capacity ought to encompass the apparatus used for obtaining intelligence, security organisations, civil administration, and the general public. Preventive, mitigating, relieving, and rehabilitative strategies should all be included in the plan.
- Combating Financing: Terrorist operations typically need a significant amount of funding. The primary pillars of a strategy would be the reporting of questionable financial activities by people and organisations; anti-money laundering protocols; capacity building; and systems for collaboration amongst the financial agencies concerned.
- Global Support: In order to reduce terrorist support and supply networks, India must also mobilise a robust global consensus against terrorism. India has been advocating for various measures such as the Convention on Countering International Terrorism (CCIT), a consensus on the definition of terrorism, steps to stop funding terrorism, UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as a common platform for action, and the inclusion of Masood Azhar and Jaish e-Mohammad in the UNSC global terrorist list.
- Response to counterterrorism: The effectiveness of counterterrorism operations is largely dependent on a prompt, appropriately armed, trained, and equipped force for the task at hand.
- Involvement of the Community: Terrorism is violence directed against onlookers. Fighting terrorism entails lessening the terror that terrorist acts inspire in addition to attempting to stop them. That can be accomplished by aggressively engaging the public and regaining their trust in terms of safety.
- Since the National Security Guard is India’s main counterterrorism strike force, it needs the resources to react quickly to terror acts in order to reduce deaths and prevent the culprits from regrouping.
- The Laws to Combat Terrorism: In its 173rd Report (2000), the Law Commission looked into this matter and emphasised the necessity of passing legislation in order to combat terrorists in a firm and efficient manner.
Way Forward:
- To combat the threat, a multifaceted strategy is required. In this situation, socioeconomic development is crucial to prevent vulnerable segments of society from falling for terrorist propaganda. Additionally, the administration must be receptive to long-standing, legitimate grievances from the public so that they can be promptly resolved and prevented from being used as a springboard by terrorist organisations.
- To effectively combat terrorism, India must implement a Trident Strategy that combines proactive action, strong political will, and information technology.
Q2. When is India’s Constitution Day observed? Describe the Indian constitution’s historical foundations and how they have influenced its development.
GS II – Constitution-related issues
Introduction:
- India, the country that gave rise to democracy, won its freedom from colonial authority in 1947. The Indian Constitution, which established a foundation for national governance, went into effect in 1950. The Constitution incorporates the nation’s historical experiences as well as a rich heritage of Indian political and social philosophy.
The Indian Constitution’s Historical Foundations:
Native Customs:
- India’s ancient and mediaeval political and social traditions are referenced in the Constitution. The Vedas, Upanishads, and Dharmashastras are among the ancient Indian scriptures that offer insights about the nature of governance, rights, and duties.
- The Constitution’s language was also impacted by the non-violent, tolerant, and egalitarian teachings of Buddhism and Jainism.
- The Constitution also reflected the Bhakti movement’s emphasis on spiritual equality and individual autonomy.
Experiences in Colonialism:
- During the colonial era, the Indian National Congress and other political groups largely borrowed from Western conceptions of liberty, democracy, and constitutionalism.
- The Government of India Act of 1935 and the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 provided the framework for the eventual formulation of the Constitution.
Political Thought in the West:
- The influence of Western political philosophy is also evident in the Constitution, particularly in the concepts of liberal democracy and the division of powers.
- The American, French, and British parliamentary systems served as inspiration for the drafters of the Indian Constitution.
- The concept of social and economic justice as well as the stress on nonviolence are two more socialist and Gandhian ideas that are incorporated into the Constitution.
Influence on the Indian Constitution’s Development:
Constitutional drafting:
- The varied historical and social experiences of India had a significant impact on the Constituent Assembly.
- The discussions and debates that took place during the writing process demonstrated the impact of Western political philosophy, colonial experiences, and indigenous Indian traditions.
Adding the Fundamental Rights:
- India’s ancient and mediaeval traditions of individual liberty and social justice are reflected in the Constitution’s fundamental rights.
- The Dharmashastras of India and the emphasis on spiritual equality by the Bhakti movement serve as sources for the rights to life, liberty, and equality before the law.
- India’s complex social fabric is reflected in the inclusion of the rights to cultural and educational enrichment as well as freedom of religion.
Constitutional Amendments:
- The country’s shifting political and social climate is reflected in the Indian Constitution’s evolution through amendments.
- One important feature that represented India’s post-independence objectives was the inclusion of Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution, which were influenced by socialist and Gandhian ideology.
- The 1992 Constitutional Amendments Nos. 73 and 74, which strengthened local government, demonstrate India’s dedication to democracy at the grassroots level.
Significant rulings rendered by the Supreme Court that have shaped the development of the Indian Constitution include:
- The fundamental structure of the Constitution was established by the Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973, which means that some of its essential elements cannot be changed.
- The Minerva Mills case (1980), which invalidated some 42nd Amendment provisions while preserving the judicial review basis.
Way Forward:
- India’s varied social and political experiences are reflected in the historical foundations. Through amendments, the Constitution has changed to reflect the goals and difficulties of the times. Despite this, India’s democratic and pluralistic culture is reflected in the Constitution, which is still a living constitution.
