Challenges of International Security

What the official syllabus says

UPPCS Main Examination, General Studies III:

• Challenges of International Security: Issues of Nuclear proliferation, Causes and spread of extremism, Communication networks, role of media and social networking, Basics of cyber security, money laundering and human trafficking.

The line lists six threats that cross borders. Each has its causes, the international rules that deal with it and India's position.

Topics in detail

Nuclear proliferation

• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968; in force 1970) and India's reasons for not signing
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (1996, not in force); the proposed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty; the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (2017)
• Nuclear Suppliers Group (formed 1974) and the 2008 waiver for India; the India-US civil nuclear agreement
• India's nuclear doctrine (2003): credible minimum deterrence, no first use, civilian control through the Nuclear Command Authority
• International Atomic Energy Agency and safeguards
• Proliferation cases: the A.Q. Khan network, North Korea, the Iran nuclear deal (2015)
• Nuclear terrorism and the security of nuclear materials

Causes and spread of extremism

• Causes: poverty and exclusion, identity and grievance, ideology, weak governance, external sponsorship
• Radicalisation, especially online; the role of charismatic leaders and propaganda
• Forms: religious, ethno-nationalist, left-wing extremism
• Global groups: Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State
• Counter-measures: de-radicalisation, community policing, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (2006), India's proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (1996)

Communication networks, media and social networking

• Use of social media for recruitment, propaganda and coordination
• Misinformation, fake news, deepfakes and hate speech; their effect on public order
• Encrypted messaging and the problem of lawful access
• Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
• Responsible role of the media in conflict and crisis reporting

Basics of cyber security

• Threats: malware, ransomware, phishing, denial of service, data breaches, cyber espionage, cyber terrorism
• Critical information infrastructure: power grids, banks, telecom, transport
• Information Technology Act, 2000 (including the offence of cyber terrorism); CERT-In; the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre
• National Cyber Security Policy (2013); the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre
• Basic hygiene: strong passwords, two-factor authentication, updates, backups

Money laundering

• Stages: placement, layering and integration
• Methods: hawala, shell companies, trade-based laundering, cryptocurrencies
• Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002; the Enforcement Directorate; the Financial Intelligence Unit-India
• Financial Action Task Force (1989); India's membership (2010); grey and black lists
• Links with terror financing; the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018

Human trafficking

• Forms: sexual exploitation, forced and bonded labour, child labour, organ trade, forced marriage
• Article 23 of the Constitution; the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956; the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976; trafficking as an offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
• UN Palermo Protocol (2000); Anti-Human Trafficking Units; the National Investigation Agency's powers over trafficking cases
• Victim rescue and rehabilitation

Overlaps

• General Studies V: security issues in Uttar Pradesh, including cyber security, money laundering and the role of communication networks and social media.
• General Studies II: India's relations with other countries and international institutions.