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Internal Security in Depth – UPSC GS3

This module of the GS Paper 3: Economy, Environment, S&T & Security course covers left-wing extremism, terrorism and insurgency, cyber security, organised crime and border management. It has 5 study lessons and a 40-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. Left-Wing Extremism: Origins, Spread and the Government Response

Free 7 min

Left-wing extremism (LWE), often called Naxalism, began with the Naxalbari uprising (1967) in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. Peasants led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal rose against landlords. Ideology: inspired by Maoism, LWE…

2. Terrorism and Insurgency: J&K and the Northeast

Premium 7 min

Definition: terrorism is the use or threat of violence against civilians to achieve political, religious or ideological goals by creating fear. There is no agreed UN definition. India has pushed the Comprehensive Convention on International…

3. Cyber Security: Threats, Institutions and Policy

Premium 7 min

India has over 95 crore internet subscribers and the world's largest real-time payments system (UPI). Its Digital Public Infrastructure (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, CoWIN, ONDC) is also expanding. This makes cyber space a critical domain of…

4. Border Management, Organised Crime and Money Laundering

Premium 7 min

Land borders: about 15,100 km, shared with seven countries: Coastline: about 11,098 km on the 2023–24 remeasurement (earlier 7,516 km), with over 1,300 islands. It is guarded by the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Police.…

5. Security Forces and Agencies, Media, Social Media and Radicalisation

Premium 7 min

Public order and police are State subjects (List II, entries 1 and 2). The Union has the duty to protect states against external aggression and internal disturbance (Article 355). It can deploy armed forces and…

 Module quiz: Internal Security in Depth (40 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

Map of India showing the state of left-wing extremism, with Chhattisgarh as the residual core, other states with remaining or historically affected districts, and Naxalbari, Bastar and Gadchiroli marked
Indicative only. The MHA district list changes frequently; Chhattisgarh's Bastar region remains the core.
Four cards describing the security, development, rights and perception management pillars of India's policy against left-wing extremism
A holistic strategy is credited with the sharp decline in violence since 2010.
Timeline of left-wing extremism in India from the Naxalbari uprising in 1967 to major operations in 2025
Violence has declined sharply since the 2010 peak.
Table listing major Northeast peace accords from the Mizo Accord of 1986 to the ULFA accord of 2023 with their years and states
A series of accords has shrunk insurgency, though the Naga settlement and Manipur remain unresolved.
Organogram of India's counter-terrorism architecture covering laws, intelligence, response forces and investigation agencies
Most of these institutions were created or strengthened after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Timeline of key security events in Jammu and Kashmir from 1989 to 2025
Local militancy has declined, but cross-border terrorism persists.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: Left-Wing Extremism: Origins, Spread and the Government Response; Terrorism and Insurgency: J&K and the Northeast; Cyber Security: Threats, Institutions and Policy; Border Management, Organised Crime and Money Laundering; Security Forces and Agencies, Media, Social Media and Radicalisation.

Answer: West Bengal. Darjeeling district.

Answer: PWG and MCC. PWG + MCC.

Answer: an MHA anti-LWE strategy doctrine. 2017 doctrine.

Answer: CRPF. CRPF.

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