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Terrorism: Learn it's UPSC Notes

Definition, Types & More
For UPSC!
Terrorism is a term that frequently appears in the news. It's a broad term that refers to a wide range of
events and ideas. Terrorism has a profound impact on the world, and India, in particular, has been a victim
of various terrorist actions done by various parties.

In this article, you will learn everything there is to know about terrorism, including its numerous forms
and sorts, possible causes, and how it affects India. This is an important topic to learn and study for the
UPSC IAS exam. This topic is covered in GS Paper III of the UPSC syllabus (Internal Security).

Background of Terrorism

• The word 'terrorism' comes from the French 'terrorisme,' which is derived from the Latin word
'terreo,' which means 'I terrify.'
• The term was initially coined during the French Revolution, specifically in relation to the 'Reign
of Terror.'
• The Irish Republican Brotherhood (1858–1924) is often regarded as the first organisation to
employ contemporary terrorist tactics.
• Indeed, virtually any particularly heinous act of violence perceived as directed against society is
frequently labeled 'terrorism,' whether it involves anti-government dissidents or governments
themselves, organized crime groups or common criminals, rioting mobs of militant protesters,
individual psychopaths or lone fraudsters.

Check out the article on Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism!

Definition of Terrorism

• The term "terrorism" is quite broad, and no single definition exists. Different individuals and
organisations have developed their own definitions of terrorism.
• It is an illegal and violent behaviour carried out by an individual, a group of individuals, or an
organisation with the intent of instilling fear in the general public and sending messages to the
public and governments in order to achieve a certain purpose.
• Although the terror attack may only affect a few individuals (depending on the circumstances),
the intended target is usually much larger than the number of victims.
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• The goal of the terrorists is to send a powerful message to the general population and the
government. They usually claim blame after committing a violent crime in order to demonstrate
their power and ability, and therefore terrorise the public.

Any criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general
public, a group of people, or a single person for a specific purpose are in any
UN Definition circumstance unjustifiable, regardless of the considerations of a political,
philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious, or any other nature that may be
invoked to justify them.
US Department Terrorism is defined by the US Department of State as premeditated, politically
of State motivated violence done by subnational groups or clandestine operatives against
Definition noncombatant targets.
European Union Terrorism, according to the European Union, has the goal of "destabilising or
Definition destroying a country's core political, constitutional, economic, or social institutions."
According to the FBI: “Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against
persons or property to

FBI Definition intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in
furtherance of political

or social objectives.”
Terrorism is an anxiety-inducing form of repeated violent action used by (semi-)
India Definition clandestine individual, group, or state actors for psychological, criminal, or political
purposes, in which the major targets of violence are not the direct targets of violence.

Causes of Terrorism

There are so many causes of terrorism, some of which are mentioned below-

• Insurgency and guerrilla warfare, a form of organised political violence

perpetrated by a non-state army or group, were the origins of terrorism theory.
• They pick terrorism because they dislike society's current structure and wish to
Political change it.
• It is, in general, the polar opposite of independence, growth, and human rights.
• Terrorism has had the greatest impact on India's frontier regions, particularly
those bordering Pakistan.

• Emphasizing that an organisation has a strategic reason for using terrorism is

another way of saying that it isn't a haphazard or irrational choice, but rather a
tool used to achieve a bigger goal.
Strategic • Hamas, for example, employs terrorist techniques, but not because it has an
irrational urge to launch rockets at Israeli Jews.
• Instead, they want to use violence (and cease-fires) to get specific concessions
from Israel and Fatah in order to achieve their goals.

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• It is often regarded as a weak person's method for gaining an edge over bigger
militaries or political powers.

• Socio-economic theories of terrorism imply that certain forms of deprivation

motivate people to commit acts of terror, or that they are more open to
recruitment by terrorist organisations.
• Poverty, illiteracy, and lack of political freedom are only a few examples. On both
Socio-
sides of the debate, there is evidence to support their claims.
economic
• Comparisons of different conclusions can be perplexing because they don't
distinguish between individuals and societies, and they ignore the complexities of
how people feel injustice or deprivation, independent of their economic situation.

• In the 1990s, experts began to argue that a new type of terrorism motivated by
religious zeal was on the increase. They cited Al Qaeda, Aum Shinrikyo (a
Japanese cult), and Christian identity groups as examples.
• Terrorist groups in India include communists, Islamists, and separatists. Terrorist
Religious groups affiliated with the Communist Party of India are by far the most common
perpetrators and the leading cause of terrorism deaths in India.
• Terrorist assaults by Islamic groups in Kashmir, Sikh separatists in Punjab, and
secessionist movements in Assam continue to target India.

Types of Terrorism

Different attempts have been made to differentiate between different sorts of terrorist activities. It's
important to remember, though, that there are many different types of terrorist movements, and no single
theory can account for them all. Not only are the goals, members, views, and resources of terrorist
organisations vary, but so are the political environments in which they operate. In its 8th report, the ARC-
2 presents the following terrorism paradigm.

Ethno-Nationalist Terrorism

• Terrorism inspired by ethno-nationalist and separatist goals rose to prominence only after World
War II and dominated the terrorist agenda for more than 50 years until religious terrorism took
centre stage.
• According to Daniel Byman, ethnic terrorism is defined as "deliberate violence by a subnational
ethnic group to advance its cause."
• The goal of such violence is frequently to establish a breakaway state or to elevate the status of
one ethnic group over others.
• Ethno-nationalist terrorist acts include Tamil Nationalist organisations in Sri Lanka and insurgent
groups in North East India.

Religious Terrorism

Terrorist acts today are mostly driven by religious imperatives all around the world. Terrorists who are
motivated in part or entirely by a religious imperative, according to Hoffman, regard violence as a divine
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obligation or a sacramental act. In comparison to other terrorist groups, it embraces distinct forms of
legitimization and justification, and these distinguishing elements make religious terrorism more
damaging in nature.

Study in detail about Sedition Law in India here!

Ideology Oriented Terrorism

Any ideology can be used to justify the use of terror and violence. Terrorism motivated by ideology is
usually divided into two categories:

1. Left-wing and
2. Right-wing Terrorism.

Left-wing
Terrorism • Violence by the peasant class, mostly inspired by so-called leftist beliefs, has
been perpetrated against the ruling elite on several occasions throughout history.
• Communists such as Lenin and Mao Tse-tung backed this notion in their writings and speeches
(Mao Zedong).
• All existing social interactions and political structures in a capitalist society, according to leftist
ideology, are exploitative in nature, and a revolutionary change through violent means is
required.
• For Example, the Red Army Faction or Baader Meinhof Gang in former West Germany, The
Maoist groups in India and Nepal are the most easily identifiable groups closer home.

Right-wing
Terrorism • Right-wing organisations typically aim to retain the status quo or revert to a
previous condition that they believe should have been preserved.
• Right-wing ideas can sometimes take on ethnic/racist overtones as well. They could compel the
government to acquire land or interfere in a neighbouring country to preserve the rights of a
"oppressed" minority (i.e. the Nazi Party in Germany).
• Terrorist violence against migrant populations is also included in this category. It's worth noting
that religion can be a source of support for right-wing violence.
• Examples of these are Nazism in Germany, Fascists in Italy, etc.

Narcoterrorism

• Narcoterrorism, in its original sense, refers to drug traffickers' attempts to influence a

government's or society's policies by violence and intimidation, as well as to obstruct the
enforcement of anti-drug legislation through the systematic threat or use of such violence.
• The following areas or countries have present or past narcoterrorism or narco-war: Afghanistan,
to fund activities via opium and heroin sales in the Afghanistan war.
• The Bombay bombings were carried out by India's D-Company, a Mumbai-based crime gang.
Through their links in Pakistani intelligence, they are said to be involved in large-scale narcotics
trafficking.

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Cyberterrorism

• It's when cyberspace and terrorism collide. It refers to illegal attacks and threats of attacks on
computers, networks, and the information stored on them that are carried out to intimidate or
compel a government or its citizens in the pursuit of political or social goals.
• For example, Computer viruses, worms, malware, hacking, ransomware, phishing, etc.

Bioterrorism

• Bioterrorism involves the deliberate release or spread of biological agents.

• In the same manner, as bacteria, viruses, insects, fungi, and/or toxins are used in biological
warfare, these agents can be naturally occurring or human-modified.
• The last time plague corpses were used for biological warfare was in 1710, when Russian
forces attacked Swedish troops by throwing plague-infected bodies over the city walls of Riga.

Cross-border Terrorism

When the soil of one country is used to spread fear or engage in terror against its bordering countries, this
is known as cross-border terrorism. India is a victim of cross-border terrorism, which has Pakistan as its
source.

Factors for cross-border terrorism are as follows:

• Internal support: Terrorists frequently receive support from the local people for a variety of
reasons, including ideological or ethnic affinity, fear, monetary enticement, and so on.
• Corrupt officials: Unfortunately, many officials in a country's institution can aid terrorists and
allow them to enter the country illegally for terrorist actions just for financial gain.
• Porous borders: These show that the border is not well-protected. Due to tough terrain and
other circumstances, India's borders with most of her neighbours cannot be physically sealed or
wired. Terrorist organisations take advantage of permeable borders to penetrate another
country.
• Backing from non-state actors: India's tense relationship with Pakistan supports the latter's
support for separatist groups, which the Pakistani leadership provides with money, weapons,
and training.

Study in detail about India & its Diaspora with the linked article!

Impacts of Terrorism

• It is a huge challenge to international peace and security, as well as a threat to humanity's

essential principles of peace and growth.
• Terrorist activities destabilize governments and impede economic and social progress, in
addition to the catastrophic human cost of terrorism in terms of lives lost or permanently altered.
• Terrorist attacks frequently transcend national boundaries.

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• Terrorist attacks with CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives)
materials have devastating implications for people and infrastructure.

Terrorism in India

• In Kashmir, the northeast, and to a lesser extent Punjab, India faces terrorism from
secessionists, as well as left-wing extremist groups in central, east-central, and south-central
India.
• The 2008 Mumbai attacks were a series of terrorist assaults in November 2008 in which ten
members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani Islamist terrorist organisation, carried out 12
coordinated shooting and bombing operations across Mumbai over the course of four days.
• India is one of the most afflicted countries in the world by terror. India was the seventh-most
affected country in 2018, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace.
• It was stated that around 8000 people were killed in terror strikes in India between 2001 and
2018.
• The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been hit the hardest by terrorist attacks in the country.
• India is also ranked 12th in the Global Terrorism Index 2022 with a score of 7.432.

Steps Taken by India to Combat Terrorism

• The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act 1967 is the current law in India meant to
combat all forms of terrorism.

• Following the terrorist attacks on Mumbai on November 26, 2001, the government established
the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
• Since the late 1990s, India has been pushing for a global intergovernmental convention called
the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) to combat terrorism.
• India is also a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global organisation
dedicated to preventing money laundering and terrorism financing.
• India maintains a network of intelligence agencies, including the Research and Analysis Wing
(RAW), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and others, that are tasked with combating terrorism both
inside and outside the country.
• There is also a National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), which is an integrated intelligence
framework that connects the databases of Indian security agencies to acquire comprehensive
intelligence patterns that can be accessed by Indian intelligence agencies
• The National Security Guard (NSG) is a paramilitary group charged with counter-terrorism and
anti-hijacking activities.

Various
Counter- • In 1990, Jammu & Kashmir launched Operation Rakshak, a counter-insurgency
Terrorism and counter-terrorism operation.
Operations • In 2003, the Indian army launched Operation Sarp Vinash to flush out militants
from the Pir Panjal region in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Operation All Out is a joint offensive launched by the United States and the United Kingdom.

• Zero-Tolerance Policy: India advocates for a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and is
working to build a single approach to combat it.

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• India has taken attempts to establish Joint Working Groups (JWGs) with other countries to
discuss counter-terrorism and security issues. Other nations have signed bilateral treaties on
Mutual Legal Assistance (MLATs) in Criminal Matters to expedite investigations, evidence
collecting, witness transfers, location and action against proceeds of crime, and so on.

Download Internal Security Notes for UPSC with this linked article!

Way Forward

• To successfully cope with these rising difficulties, multilateral institutions and methods must be
strengthened and changed.
• Countries affected by the scourge of terrorism should make a coordinated effort to put pressure
on countries that engage in state-sponsored terrorism.
• Gathering and disseminating intelligence is insufficient; timely and proper action on the
intelligence obtained is essential.
• To be able to respond in a timely manner, intelligence agencies must be financially and
technologically empowered.
• Human rights violations and gaps in implementation should be addressed fairly and impartially,
with impartiality, non-selectivity, openness, and appropriate regard for the principles of non-
interference in internal affairs and national sovereignty.
• The Covid-19 pandemic has complicated the situation in many parts of the world, requiring
everyone to work together to overcome these obstacles.

UPSC Mains Previous Year Question

Q.1 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. (Answer in 250 words) (UPSC
2021)

Q2. 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 the influence of
OGWs. (UPSC 2019)

Q3. Indian Government has recently strengthened the anti-terrorism laws by amending the unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, and the NIA act. Analyze the changes in the context of the
prevailing security environment while discussing the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human
rights organizations. (UPSC 2019)

Q4. Terrorism is emerging as a competitive industry over the last few decades.” Analyze the above
statement. (UPSC 2016)

We hope all your doubts regarding Terrorism would have been addressed now. Testbook provides study
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