GD Topic:
India faces many challenges in its progress towards becoming a secure nation. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge faced by our nation?
a. Caste and Religion
b. Internal Security Challenges
c. External Aggression
A nation's security is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice and stability."
India, as one of the world's fastest-growing economies and a rising global power, faces numerous challenges on its path to becoming a secure nation. Among these, three significant concerns often emerge: Caste and Religion, Internal Security Challenges, and External Aggression. Each has a profound impact on national security.
1. Caste and Religion – Threats to Social Harmony - Communal Riots and Tensions: Religious and caste-based conflicts result in loss of lives and property. Events like the Delhi Riots (2020) and Muzaffarnagar Riots (2013) illustrate the social turmoil caused by communal tensions.
- Political Exploitation: Politicizing caste and religion leads to polarisation, hindering development.
- Discrimination and Marginalization: Unequal opportunities in education, employment, and social mobility worsen social divisions.
- Statistics: According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), communal violence increased by 27% between 2020 and 2022.
Impact: ✅ Weakening of national unity and internal stability.✅ Erosion of trust between communities.
✅ Diversion of resources from development to conflict management.
2. Internal Security Challenges – Threats from Within - Naxalism and Insurgency: Regions like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand face Maoist insurgencies, impacting development.
- Terrorism: Homegrown terror cells and radicalisation through online platforms remain threats.
- Cyber Attacks: Cyberterrorism and digital fraud pose security risks to critical infrastructure.
- Border States Conflict: The northeastern insurgencies and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir require constant military engagement.
- Statistics: The South Asia Terrorism Portal recorded over 200 Maoist-related incidents in 2023 alone.
Impact: ✅ Disruption of law and order.
✅ Resource diversion towards security management.
✅ Fear and instability among civilians.
3. External Aggression – National Sovereignty at Risk - Hostile Neighbors: Constant border tensions with Pakistan and China lead to military confrontations, such as the Galwan Valley Clash (2020).
- Terrorism from Across Borders: Cross-border terrorism, especially from Pakistan, remains a persistent challenge.
- Cyber Warfare and Espionage: Countries engage in digital attacks to steal sensitive data and disrupt national security.
- Statistics: India faced over 1.39 million cyberattacks in 2022, as per CERT-In.
Impact: ✅ High military expenditure and resource allocation.
✅ Threat to territorial integrity and sovereignty.
✅ Potential disruption of trade and global partnerships.
Conclusion: The Biggest Challenge While Caste and Religion threaten social harmony and External Aggression poses a threat to sovereignty, the most immediate and complex challenge is Internal Security Challenges.
- Internal conflicts destabilize governance and hamper economic progress.
- Continuous military operations and law enforcement involvement drain national resources.
- Addressing insurgency, terrorism, and cyber threats is crucial for maintaining national stability.
Therefore, Internal Security Challenges stand as the biggest challenge India faces in its progress towards becoming a secure nation.
