Questions & explanations
1. With reference to the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord, consider the following statements:
1. It was signed between the Government of India, the Government of Assam, and all four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
2. The accord led to the renaming of the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) as the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
3. It included provisions for granting Bodo language official status in Assam and protecting the land rights of indigenous Bodos.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. The 2020 Bodo Peace Accord, also called the Third Bodo Accord, was signed on 27 January 2020. It was signed by the Government of India, the Government of Assam, and all four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), along with the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and the United Bodo People's Organisation. So statement 1 is correct. The accord renamed the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) as the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The BTR got more legislative, executive, administrative, and financial powers under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. So statement 2 is correct. The accord also gave the Bodo language official language status in Assam (in the Devanagari script) and added steps to protect the land rights of the indigenous Bodo people. So statement 3 is correct. Since all three statements are correct, the answer is (d).
2. With reference to the 2020 Bodo Accord (Third Bodo Accord), consider the following statements:
1. It was signed between the Government of India, the Government of Assam, and various factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), along with other Bodo organizations.
2. It led to the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, replacing the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD).
3. The accord included provisions for enhanced legislative, administrative, and financial powers for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and measures for the protection of Bodo language and culture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
The 2020 Bodo Accord, also called the Third Bodo Accord, was signed on 27 January 2020. It was signed by the Government of India, the Government of Assam, several factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and other Bodo organisations such as the All Bodo Students' Union. So statement 1 is correct. Because of this accord, the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) was renamed and reshaped as the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), which works under the Sixth Schedule. So statement 2 is correct. The accord also gave more law-making, administrative and financial powers to the Bodoland Territorial Council and added steps to protect the Bodo language and culture. So statement 3 is correct. Since all three statements are right, the answer is (d).
3. Which Indian government programme aims to deradicalise youth attracted to terrorism?
- Operation Sadbhavana
- Project Udbhav
- Nasha Mukt Bharat
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram
Answer: Operation Sadbhavana
Operation Sadbhavana is a 'hearts and minds' goodwill and civic-action programme run by the Indian Army in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. It builds goodwill among local people through schools, scholarships, healthcare, skill development, infrastructure and youth and sports activities. By countering alienation and reducing the appeal of militancy among the youth, it supports broader efforts to prevent radicalisation. Of the options given, it is the best fit. (For reference, the other options are unrelated: Project Udbhav is an Army initiative on indigenous strategic thought and military doctrine, Nasha Mukt Bharat is a drug-de-addiction campaign, and PMJVK is a minority-area development scheme.)
4. Consider the following statements about the coordination between state and central agencies in internal security:
1. The State Police are under the control of the respective state governments.
2. The central agencies like NIA and CRPF can operate in states only with state consent.
3. The Ministry of Home Affairs has no role in coordinating between states and central forces.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: State Police are under the control of respective state governments per the Constitution (Police is a state subject under List II/Entry 2). Statement 2 is false: NIA can operate across states WITHOUT requiring state government consent — this is the defining feature of NIA Act 2008; CRPF can be deployed to states on request or by Centre under Article 355/356, but the precise mechanism for CRPF differs from NIA. The statement 'NIA can operate only with state consent' is factually wrong. Statement 3 is false: MHA has an active and important role in coordinating between central forces and state governments. Only Statement 1 is correct. Correct answer is (c) '1 only.'
5. Consider the following statements about the government’s approach to Left Wing Extremism:
1. The government has adopted a 'Security + Development' approach.
2. The establishment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has significantly reduced Maoist influence.
3. The use of Special Task Forces (STFs) has led to a decline in Maoist cadres.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
The answer is (a), 1 only. Statement 1 is correct. The government follows a 'Security plus Development' plan. It mixes police and paramilitary action with roads, schools, health care and welfare schemes in affected areas. The CRPF was set up long before the Maoist problem and is just one of many forces deployed. Simply having the CRPF there has not, by itself, sharply cut Maoist strength. Statement 3 is also wrong as worded. Special Task Forces, like the Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh, have helped in some states, but their results have been mixed and they have not, on their own, caused a clear all-India fall in Maoist cadres. So only statement 1 is fully correct.
6. With reference to the causes of Left Wing Extremism, consider the following statements: 1. The failure of development projects in tribal regions has led to a perception of state betrayal. 2. The state's heavy-handed security response has often alienated local populations. 3. The influence of foreign ideologies, particularly from China, has significantly shaped the ideology of Indian Maoists. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The answer is (a). Statement 1 is correct. When development and welfare projects fail in tribal areas, or displace people without proper rehabilitation, locals feel let down by the state. This sense of betrayal pushes some towards extremism. Statement 2 is correct. When security forces use too much force, ordinary villagers often feel targeted. This anger helps the Maoists gain local support. Statement 3 is not correct. Indian Maoists do draw ideas from Mao Zedong of China, but this is only ideological inspiration. There is no major foreign funding or direct foreign control of the movement. So only statements 1 and 2 are valid causes, and the answer is (a).
7. What is the role of SCO-RATS in counterterrorism?
- It is a military alliance
- It coordinates intelligence and joint exercises
- It provides humanitarian aid
- It monitors cyber threats only
Answer: It coordinates intelligence and joint exercises
SCO-RATS stands for the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, a permanent body of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation based in Tashkent. Its main job is to help member states share intelligence and coordinate action against terrorism, separatism and extremism. It maintains a database of wanted terrorists and banned organisations and supports legal cooperation among members. Large multilateral counter-terror drills (such as the SCO 'Peace Mission' exercises) are run under the wider SCO framework rather than directly by RATS. Among the options, RATS is best described as coordinating intelligence and counter-terrorism cooperation, so option (b) is correct.
8. Why did the NSG take over 9 hours to reach Mumbai during the 26/11 attacks?
- (a) They were not alerted
- (b) They were in Delhi and had to fly commercial
- (c) They were busy elsewhere
- (d) They refused to come
Answer: (b) They were in Delhi and had to fly commercial
The NSG was not pre-positioned in Mumbai; its strike units were based at Manesar near Delhi. The main reasons for the roughly nine-to-ten-hour delay were that there was no dedicated aircraft kept ready, so a military IL-76 transport had to be readied and refuelled and its crew called in (the NSG flew on this IL-76, not on a commercial flight), road movement of the convoy from Manesar to Delhi airport took time, and there was a further wait before take-off. After 26/11, NSG regional hubs were created in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, and dedicated aircraft support was arranged to cut response time.
9. Consider the following statements about infiltration and cross-border terrorism:
1. The use of drones for infiltration has been reported in the Kashmir region.
2. Infiltration attempts are generally higher during warmer months when snow melts and mountain passes become more accessible.
3. The Indian Army has deployed advanced surveillance systems to detect infiltration attempts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
The correct answer is (d): all three statements are right. Statement 1 is true. Drones have been used across the Kashmir border to drop weapons, drugs, and supplies, which helps infiltration. Statement 2 is true. More people try to cross in the warmer months of spring and summer, when snow melts and mountain passes open up. In winter, heavy snow blocks these routes. Statement 3 is true. The Indian Army uses modern tools like radars, thermal imagers, and drones to spot people trying to cross the border. Since all three are correct, options (a), (b), and (c) are wrong because each one leaves out a true statement.
10. With reference to the 1985 Assam Accord, consider the following statements:
1. It was signed between the Government of India, the Government of Assam, and the leaders of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP).
2. It fixed March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
3. It led to the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) to address the demands of the Bodo community.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The 1985 Assam Accord was signed on 15 August 1985. The Government of India, the Government of Assam, and the leaders of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) signed it. It ended the six-year-long Assam Agitation. So statement 1 is correct. The Accord set 25 March 1971 as the cut-off date. People who entered Assam after this date were to be found out and sent back. So statement 2 is correct. The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was not set up by this Accord. It came from the 2003 Bodo Accord. Hence only statements 1 and 2 are correct, and the answer is (a).
11. With reference to the peace process in the Northeast, consider the following statements: 1. The 2015 Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) was a major breakthrough in resolving the Naga issue. 2. The Government of India has explicitly rejected the demand for 'Greater Nagaland' involving territorial merger with areas in other states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
The 2015 Framework Agreement between the Government of India and NSCN-IM was a major breakthrough (Statement 1 correct). The agreement acknowledged Naga unique history, identity, and sovereignty aspirations within the Indian constitutional framework; it did not explicitly formalise 'Greater Nagaland' as a territorial provision (Statement 2 incorrect). Statement 3 has been corrected to read: 'The final Naga peace accord has not been concluded because of unresolved differences over a separate Naga flag and constitution.' Under the corrected stem, Statement 1 and the corrected Statement 3 are both correct.
12. Which of the following statements about the causes of Left Wing Extremism is/are correct? 1. The lack of implementation of Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) has contributed to tribal alienation. 2. The displacement of tribal populations due to mining and infrastructure projects has fueled resentment. 3. The presence of strong political parties in tribal areas has reduced the appeal of Maoist ideology. Select the correct answer using the code below:
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The answer is (a). Statement 1 is correct. The PESA Act of 1996 was meant to give tribal communities control over their own local affairs in Scheduled Areas. Where it has not been put into practice, tribals feel ignored and cut off from the state. Statement 2 is correct. When tribal people are displaced by mining and big projects, the loss of land and livelihood creates deep anger. In many tribal areas political parties are weak or absent, not strong. This weak governance actually increases the appeal of the Maoists rather than reducing it. So only statements 1 and 2 are correct, and the answer is (a).