UPSC Mains 2019 · GS III · Q9 · 10 marks · 150 words

The banning of ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’ in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize influence of OGWs.

हिन्दी में

जम्मू और कश्मीर में ‘जमात-ए-इस्लामी’ पर पाबंदी लगाने से आतंकवादी संगठनों को सहायता पहुँचाने में भूमि-उपरि कार्यकर्ताओं (ओ० जी० डब्ल्यू०) की भूमिका ध्यान का केंद्र बन गई है। उपप्लव (बगावत) प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में आतंकवादी संगठनों को सहायता पहुँचाने में भूमि-उपरि कार्यकर्ताओं द्वारा निभाई जा रही भूमिका का परीक्षण कीजिए। भूमि-उपरि कार्यकर्ताओं के प्रभाव को निष्प्रभावित करने के उपायों की चर्चा कीजिए।

Terrorism

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Despite decline in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and proxy militant groups continue to pose a serious threat to India's internal security. What strategies can be adopted to neutralize these threats?”

Pakshal SecretryAIR 8 · CSE 2025 · 122 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a recent event

Recent Pahalgam attack has highlighted the serious threat posed by OGWs which facilitated movement of Pak-Based Terrorist to Kashmir Valley.

Body · points

Diagram
- OGWs as Serious threat - Part of 0.5 front (2.5 front doctrine of NSA Doval) - Provide logistic support - Create negative perception of army & Indian govt.

Strategies to be adopted

  1. No Difference / Distinguishment between Terrorist and their Supporters (OGWs)
  2. use of force to identify and eliminate core supporters of terrorist.
  3. Development as an antidote towards sympathisers
  4. Targetted programs for winning heart and mind strategies
  5. Curbing source of finances → make OGWs resourceless
  6. Amendment in legal Domain eg UAPA → Special provisions to deal with OGWs.
  7. Use of local people and social capital → To identify and detect OGWs.
  8. Counter-Radicalisation strategies against OGWs.

Close · a summary

OGWs needs to be viewed as a serious threat like terrorist and should be tackled accordingly.

3 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper III, Q9. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.