Internal Security, Border Management, Civil Defence and Disaster Management
This domain tests internal threats, border-guarding responsibilities and disaster-response institutions. Questions often ask which force guards which border, or who coordinates a disaster response.
Core rules
- Internal security threats include Left Wing Extremism, terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, north-east insurgency, communal violence, organised crime and cybercrime.
- Key agencies include the Ministry of Home Affairs, Intelligence Bureau, NIA and central armed police forces: BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB, ITBP and NSG.
- Border-guarding: BSF guards the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders; ITBP guards the China border; SSB guards Nepal and Bhutan borders; Assam Rifles guards the Myanmar border. The Navy and Coast Guard handle maritime borders.
- India has about 15,106 km of land border and 7,516 km of coastline including islands.
- Civil defence is governed by the Civil Defence Act, 1968; disaster management by the Disaster Management Act, 2005, with NDMA, SDMA and DDMA. NDRF is a specialised response force.
Worked example
A question asks who coordinates flood response in a Himalayan state. Reasoning: disaster management is a state subject. The State Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority coordinate, the state requisitions NDRF battalions, and armed forces provide aid on request. NDMA sets national policy but does not replace state authority.
Traps that cost marks
- Mixing BSF, ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles border responsibilities.
- Treating civil defence as identical to NDRF.
- Assuming the Army is the first responder in every disaster.
- Forgetting that disaster management is primarily a state responsibility.