UPSC Mains 2025 · GS IV · Q12 · 20 marks · 250 words · Case study

Ashok is Divisional Commissioner of one of the border districts of the North East State. A few years back, Military has taken over the neighbouring country after overthrowing the elected civil government. Civil war situation is prevailing in the country especially in last two years. However, internal situation further deteriorated due to rebel groups taking over control of certain populated areas near own border. Due to intense fight between military and rebel groups, civilian casualties has increased manifold in recent past. In the meantime, in one night Ashok got information from the local police guarding the border check post that there are about 200-250 people mainly women and children trying to cross over to our side of the border. There are also about 10 soldiers with their weapons in military uniform part of this group who wants to cross over. Women and Children are also crying and begging for help. A few of them are injured and bleeding profusely need immediate medical care. Ashok tried to contact Home Secretary of the State but failed to do so due to poor connectivity mainly due to inclement weather.

  1. (a) What are the options available with Ashok to cope with the situation ?
  2. (b) What are the ethical and legal dilemmas being faced by Ashok ?
  3. (c) Which of the options, do you think would be more appropriate for Ashok to adopt and why ?
  4. (d) In the present situation, what are the extra precautionary measures to be taken by the Border Guarding Police in dealing with soldiers in uniform ?

हिन्दी में

अशोक पूर्वोत्तर राज्य के एक सीमावर्ती जिले के मंडल आयुक्त हैं । कुछ वर्ष पहले, सेना ने निर्वाचित नागरिक सरकार को उखाड़ फेंकने के वाद पड़ोसी देश पर कब्जा कर लिया था । देश में विशेष रूप से पिछले दो वर्षों से गृहयुद्ध की स्थिति वनी हुई है । हालाँकि, विद्रोही समूहों द्वारा अपनी सीमा के पास कुछ आबादी वाले क्षेत्रों पर नियंत्रण करने के कारण आंतरिक स्थिति और बिगड़ गई । सैन्य और विद्रोही समूहों के बीच तीव्र संघर्ष के कारण हाल के दिनों में नागरिक हताहतों की संख्या में कई गुना वृद्धि हुई है । इसी बीच अशोक को एक रात में सीमा चौकी पर तैनात पुलिस से सूचना मिली कि लगभग 200-250 लोग, जिनमें मुख्य रूप से महिलाएँ और बच्चे हैं, सीमा पार करके हमारी सीमा की ओर आने की कोशिश कर रहे थे । इस समूह में सैन्य वर्दीधारी हथियारों के साथ लगभग 10 सैनिक शामिल हैं जो सीमा पार करना चाहते हैं । महिलाएँ और बच्चे रो रहे हैं और मदद की भीख मांग रहे हैं । उनमें कुछ घायल हैं और बहुत ज्यादा खून बह रहा है, उन्हें तुरंत चिकित्सा की जरूरत है । अशोक ने राज्य के गृह सचिव से संपर्क करने का प्रयास किया, लेकिन खराब मौसम के कारण खराब कनेक्टिविटी के कारण ऐसा करने में असफल रहे ।

  1. (a) इस स्थिति से निपटने के लिए अशोक के पास क्या विकल्प उपलब्ध हैं ?
  2. (b) अशोक को किन नैतिक और कानूनी दुविधाओं का सामना करना पड़ रहा है ?
  3. (c) आपके विचार से अशोक के लिए कौन सा विकल्प अपनाना अधिक उपयुक्त होगा और क्यों ?
  4. (d) वर्तमान स्थिति में वर्दीधारी सैनिकों के साथ व्यवहार करते समय सीमा सुरक्षा पुलिस द्वारा क्या अतिरिक्त एहतियाती उपाय किए जाने चाहिए ?
Crisis Decision MakingEmpathy and CompassionEthics in International Relations

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “There is an ongoing ethnic civil war in a neighbouring country. The conflict has caused massive displacement of people from the country. Ironically, the developed countries have closed off their borders to the refugees on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, resource competition, domestic politics etc. With countries sealing off their borders, the refugees are left in a vulnerable situation and many are taking illegal routes to enter your country. As a Senior Official of your country's Ministry of External Affairs, you have been involved in discussions with officials of other nations and are entrusted with the mandate to design a national policy to safely accommodate India bound refugees. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) Discuss the moral issues related to the rights of international refugees, especially those from conflict-torn regions. (b) What recommendations would you suggest given the large influx of refugees in India.”

Waseem Ahmad BhatAIR 7 · CSE 2022 · 389 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

The given case depicts the case of refugees who face costs of life, livelihood to migrate in face of persecution & the dilemmas facing the officials. It also depicts the lack of universalism & humanism in the developed countries.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
- Stakeholders - Civil war country - Refugees - Developed countries - India - Ministry of External affairs - Me (as senior official)

(a) Moral issues surrounding refugees

Refugees from conflict-prone areas such as Syria, Yemen, Myanmar etc are part of larger collection of refugees due to reasons even of climate change (as in Sahel region). Following are the issues:

  • Right to life as an international human right (UNDHR) is abrogated by many countries (e.g. USA closing border to people from Muslim countries)
  • Loss of livelihood leads to income insecurity, lack of social security & poverty e.g.: Rohingya slum in Bangladesh.
  • Right of citizens of countries on its resources may be affected by refugees e.g.: Bangladesh.
  • Security concerns due to threat of radicalisation and terrorism (e.g: Rakhine army)

⊙ Non-refoulement as a right of refugees is abrogated as sent back e.g: UK sending refugees to Rwanda recently.

⊙ Focus on economy rather than social justice in destination countries.

⊙ Vulnerable sections such as women & children face sexual harassment, lack of dignity in the camps (UNHCR).

(b) As a senior official in MEA, my duty is to ensure that India's foreign policy reflects its commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and 'enlightened self interest' and at the same time to ensure security of our nation borders and citizens.

In this context, my recommendations will be as:

⊙ Border screening needs to ensured to weed out the radical elements and only allow 'geniune refugees'

⊙ The refugee camps and homes are to be properly built with both dignified homes (under ARHC of PMAY) and WASH facilities (SBM, Saubhagya etc)

⊙ Refugees will be provided with Id cards in collaboration with UNHCR for social security and provision of food, etc

⊙ Livelihood rehabilitation of refugees through MGNREGA, skilling along with NGOs and private sector → Such as Karwan-e-Mohabbat NGO.

Close

⊙ Facilitate peace in the neighbour country in collab. with UN & other countries

⊙ Later those who want to go back can do so based on assessment of threat and a dignified life

⊙ Recommend for adoption of International Refugee Convention and a National Refugee Policy.

NHRC recently advised government to not send back Rohingyas which shows a way forward for global peace.

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 2025, General Studies Paper IV, Q12. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.