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UPSC Mains PYQs on Border Areas and Organised Crime (GS Paper 3)

Every UPSC Mains question on Border Areas and Organised Crime between 2013 and 2025 is listed below, newest year first, with the marks it carried. Filter by microtheme to see one idea across all the years.

By Team MaargX UPSC · UPSC Mains 2013-2025

Short answer: UPSC has asked 20 questions on Border Areas and Organised Crime (syllabus item 22 of GS Paper 3) between 2013 and 2025, worth 242.5 marks in all, about 1.8 questions a year. The most-asked microthemes are Organized Crime and Terrorism (10), Border Area Management (7), Maritime Security challenges (3). The busiest year was 2023 (3 questions, 35 marks).

UPSC syllabus, GS Paper 3, item 22: Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

Find Questions by GS Paper, Syllabus Topic and Microtheme

Step 1 paper → Step 2 syllabus topic → Step 3 subject → Step 4 microtheme. Each step opens after the one before it.

Border Areas and Organised Crime: questions year-wise with marks

2025 2 questions · 25 marks

  1. 202515 marks Maritime Security challenges

    Why is maritime security vital to protect India's sea trade? Discuss maritime and coastal security challenges and the way forward.

  2. 202510 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    Terrorism is a global scourge. How has it manifested in India? Elaborate with contemporary examples. What are the counter measures adopted by the State? Explain.

2024 2 questions · 25 marks

  1. 202415 marks Border Area Management

    India has a long and troubled border with China and Pakistan fraught with contentious issues. Examine the conflicting issues and security challenges along the border. Also give out the development being undertaken in these areas under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme.

  2. 202410 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    Explain how narco-terrorism has emerged as a serious threat across the country. Suggest suitable measures to counter narco-terrorism.

2023 3 questions · 35 marks

  1. 202310 marks Border Area Management

    The use of unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders to ferry arms/ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat.

  2. 202315 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    Give out the major sources of terror funding in India and efforts being made to curtail these sources. In the light of this, also discuss the aim and objective of the ' No Money for Terror [NMFT]' Conference recently held at New Delhi in November 2022.

  3. 202310 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    Winning of 'Hearts and Minds' in terrorism affected areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss the measures adopted by the Government in this respect as part of the conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir.

2022 2 questions · 20 marks

  1. 202210 marks Maritime Security challenges

    What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security.

  2. 202210 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    Discuss the types of organised crimes. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels.

2021 1 question · 15 marks

  1. 202115 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of terrorism.

2020 1 question · 10 marks

  1. 202010 marks Border Area Management

    For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favourable perception among locals.

2019 2 questions · 25 marks

  1. 201915 marks Border Area Management

    Cross-border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India-Myanmar border. Also, discuss the steps to counter the challenges.

  2. 201910 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    The banning of 'Jamaat-e – islaami' 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 the influence of OGWs.

2017 1 question · 15 marks

  1. 201715 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding?

2016 3 questions · 37.5 marks

  1. 201612.5 marks Border Area Management

    Border management is a complex task due to difficult terrain and hostile relations with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for effective border management.

  2. 201612.5 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    Terrorism is emerging as a competitive industry over the last few decades. Analyse the above statement.

  3. 201612.5 marks Organized Crime and Terrorism

    The terms 'Hot Pursuit' and 'Surgical Strikes' are often used in connection with armed action against terrorist attacks. Discuss the strategic impact of such actions.

2014 2 questions · 25 marks

  1. 201412.5 marks Border Area Management

    How illegal transborder migration does pose a threat to India's security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration.

  2. 201412.5 marks Maritime Security challenges

    In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organisation. What impact does this have on India's maritime security concerns?

2013 1 question · 10 marks

  1. 201310 marks Border Area Management

    How far are India's internal security challenges linked with border management, particularly in view of the long porous borders with most countries of South Asia and Myanmar?

Border Areas and Organised Crime at a Glance

Syllabus itemGS Paper 3, item 22 (Internal Security)
Questions asked20 (2013-2025), about 1.8 a year
Total marks242.5 marks
Last five years10 questions, 120 marks (2021-2025)
Usual weight10 marks (9 questions)
Directive wordsDiscuss (9), Suggest (4), Explain (1), Examine (1)
Busiest year2023 (3 questions, 35 marks)

Year-Wise Summary

Number of UPSC Mains questions and total marks for each year
YearQuestionsMarks
2025225 marks
2024225 marks
2023335 marks
2022220 marks
2021115 marks
2020110 marks
2019225 marks
2017115 marks
2016337.5 marks
2014225 marks
2013110 marks
Total20242.5 marks

Microthemes in Border Areas and Organised Crime

These are the ideas inside this topic, most asked first. Select one to see all its questions year-wise with marks.

Other Topics in GS Paper 3

How to Use Mains PYQs Topic Wise

  1. Start with the microthemes. Open a topic and read its microtheme list. The ones with the most questions are the ideas UPSC returns to.
  2. Read the demand words. Note how questions begin: discuss, examine, critically analyse, comment. Each asks for a different answer structure.
  3. Write by marks. A 10-mark question needs a tight answer of about 150 words, and a 15-mark question about 250 words.
  4. Cover all years of a microtheme. Write the oldest and the latest question on the same microtheme, and see how the angle changed.
  5. Revise and rewrite. Revise the topic from the notes, and write the same question again after a week.

For the method in full, read the Mains answer writing strategy. The official papers are on our UPSC PYQs page.

Questions are shown as printed in the UPSC Civil Services (Main) General Studies papers of 2013-2025. The grouping into topics and microthemes is by Team MaargX UPSC. Check any wording against the official paper on upsc.gov.in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many UPSC Mains questions have been asked on Border Areas and Organised Crime?

20 questions on Border Areas and Organised Crime appeared in UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 between 2013 and 2025, worth 242.5 marks in all. That is about 1.8 questions a year. Every one of them is listed on this page, year-wise with its marks.

Which Border Areas and Organised Crime microthemes does UPSC ask most often?

The most-asked microthemes in Border Areas and Organised Crime are Organized Crime and Terrorism (10), Border Area Management (7), Maritime Security challenges (3). The number in brackets is how many questions each has had since 2013. Use the microtheme filter to see all of them together, year by year, with marks.

In which year was Border Areas and Organised Crime asked the most in UPSC Mains?

The busiest year for Border Areas and Organised Crime was 2023 (3 questions, 35 marks). The lightest was 2021 (1 questions, 15 marks). Treat these swings as noise: UPSC does not repeat a fixed pattern, so cover the whole topic.

How many marks do Border Areas and Organised Crime questions carry?

Of the 20 questions on Border Areas and Organised Crime, 6 of 15 marks, 5 of 12.5 marks, 9 of 10 marks. Plan your word limit by marks: 10-marker answers run to about 150 words and 15-marker answers to about 250 words.

What kind of questions does UPSC ask on Border Areas and Organised Crime?

The directive words in the 20 questions on Border Areas and Organised Crime are Discuss (9), Suggest (4), Explain (1), Examine (1). Match your answer to the word: discuss and examine want both sides with a conclusion, while comment and critically analyse want a reasoned stand.

Is Border Areas and Organised Crime important for UPSC Mains?

In the last five years (2021-2025) UPSC asked 10 questions on Border Areas and Organised Crime, worth 120 marks. In the first five years (2013-2017) it asked 7, worth 87.5 marks.

Which GS paper does Border Areas and Organised Crime belong to?

Border Areas and Organised Crime belongs to UPSC Mains GS Paper 3, titled Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management. The questions on this page are all from that paper.

How should I use these Border Areas and Organised Crime PYQs?

Read the microtheme list first, then pick one and write two or three answers in the time limit. Compare each with what the question demands (discuss, examine, critically analyse). Revise the topic from the Maarg Manthan notes and write the same question again after a week.

Official Sources

These are the primary sources behind this page. Rules, dates and papers can change, so confirm them on the official pages.

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