UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) General Studies Paper V — Current Affairs, Security and International Relations Syllabus

General Studies Paper V — Current Affairs, Security and International Relations syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Studies Paper V — Current Affairs, Security and International Relations in UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Internal Security

   4 topics

   • Security Challenges
     • Left-wing extremism and insurgency
     • Terrorism and radicalisation
   • Border and Coastal Security
     • Management of land and maritime borders
   • Cyber and Money Laundering
     • Cyber security threats and architecture
     • Money laundering and organised crime
   • Security Forces and Agencies
     • Mandate of central armed police and intelligence agencies
2. 2

   India's Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations

   3 topics

   • Evolution of Foreign Policy
     • Non-alignment to multi-alignment
   • Neighbourhood Relations
     • India and South Asian neighbours
     • Neighbourhood First and SAGAR
   • Relations with Major Powers
     • India-US, India-Russia and India-China ties
3. 3

   India and the World — Groupings and Diaspora

   3 topics

   • Regional and Global Groupings
     • SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEAN and QUAD
     • BRICS, G20 and SCO
   • International Institutions
     • UN and its agencies
     • IMF, World Bank and WTO
   • Indian Diaspora
     • Role and contribution of diaspora
4. 4

   National and International Current Affairs

   3 topics

   • National Developments
     • Major policies, schemes and reports
   • International Developments
     • Bilateral and multilateral events of significance
   • Reports, Indices and Awards
     • Global indices and major awards

General Studies Paper V — Current Affairs, Security and International Relations flashcards for UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)

18 of 50 cards from the General Studies Paper V — Current Affairs, Security and International Relations deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the difference between traditional and non-traditional security threats?

   Traditional threats are military/external (war, armed aggression between states). Non-traditional threats are non-military and transnational (terrorism, cyber attacks, climate change, pandemics, money laundering, organized crime, human trafficking).

2. What are the four main internal security challenges listed in the UPSC syllabus (GS-III)?

   (1) Terrorism and its linkages with organized crime; (2) Left-Wing Extremism (Naxalism); (3) Insurgency in the Northeast and J&K separatism; (4) Communalism and the role of external state and non-state actors.

3. What is 'Left-Wing Extremism' (LWE) in India, and what was the Naxalbari uprising?

   LWE (Naxalism/Maoism) is an armed Maoist insurgency seeking to overthrow the state. It is named after the 1967 Naxalbari (West Bengal) peasant uprising; the main outfit today is the CPI (Maoist), active in the 'Red Corridor.'

4. What is the AFSPA, and which authority can declare an area 'disturbed' under it?

   The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 grants special powers (search, arrest, use of force) to armed forces in 'disturbed areas.' The Governor of a state or the Central Government can declare an area 'disturbed.'

5. Which agency is the nodal body for counter-terrorism investigation in India, and under which Act was it created?

   The National Investigation Agency (NIA), created by the NIA Act, 2008 after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It investigates terror and other scheduled offences across states without state permission.

6. How long is India's land border and coastline, and how many countries does India share land borders with?

   Land border: about 15,106.7 km; coastline: about 7,516.6 km (mainland ~6,100 km). India shares land borders with 7 countries: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Afghanistan.

7. Which forces guard India's borders with Pakistan/Bangladesh, China, Nepal/Bhutan, and Myanmar respectively?

   Pakistan & Bangladesh: Border Security Force (BSF). China: Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Nepal & Bhutan: Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Myanmar: Assam Rifles.

8. What is the Line of Control (LoC) versus the Line of Actual Control (LAC)?

   The LoC is the military control line between India and Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir (originally the 1949 ceasefire line, renamed under the 1972 Shimla Agreement). The LAC is the disputed, undemarcated effective boundary between India and China.

9. Which force is responsible for India's coastal and maritime border security in territorial waters, and which act governs it?

   The Indian Coast Guard, established under the Coast Guard Act, 1978; it secures maritime zones and the EEZ. After 26/11, coastal security is layered: Coast Guard, marine police (state) and Indian Navy.

10. What is the breadth of India's territorial sea and its Exclusive Economic Zone under UNCLOS?

    Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles from the baseline. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 200 nautical miles, within which India has sovereign rights over resources.

11. What is money laundering, and what are its three classic stages?

    Money laundering is making illegally obtained money appear legitimate. Three stages: (1) Placement (introducing cash into the financial system); (2) Layering (complex transactions to obscure the origin); (3) Integration (returning 'clean' money to the holder).

12. Which Indian law is the principal statute against money laundering, and which agency enforces it?

    The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, enforced primarily by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

13. What is the FATF, and what are its 'grey list' and 'black list'?

    The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global standard-setter against money laundering and terror financing (formed 1989, G7). Grey list = jurisdictions under increased monitoring; Black list = high-risk, non-cooperative jurisdictions (e.g., Iran, North Korea).

14. What is CERT-In, and what is its statutory basis?

    The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is the national nodal agency for cyber security incident response, designated under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

15. Which body coordinates India's overall cyber security policy at the national level under the PMO?

    The National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC), under the National Security Council Secretariat. The National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) protects critical information infrastructure under the NTRO.

16. What are India's three main intelligence agencies and their domains?

    Intelligence Bureau (IB): internal/domestic intelligence (under MHA). Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW): external intelligence (under Cabinet Secretariat). National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO): technical/signals intelligence.

17. List the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) of India.

    The seven CAPFs: BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, Assam Rifles, and the NSG (National Security Guard). All are under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

18. What is the role of the CRPF and the NSG?

    CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force): India's largest paramilitary force, for internal security and anti-Naxal operations. NSG (National Security Guard / 'Black Cats'): elite counter-terrorism and hostage-rescue force.

See more General Studies Paper V — Current Affairs, Security and International Relations flashcards →

Planning General Studies Paper V — Current Affairs, Security and International Relations for UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)

General Studies Paper V — Current Affairs, Security and International Relations (UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)) FAQ