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APSC Answer Writing (Daily) based on Assam Tribune – 12/05/2025

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily Answer Writing is vital. This blog covers the most important Main question and its model Answer from the Assam Tribune today (12-05-2025).

📝 GS Paper 3 – Internal Security | Counter-Terrorism Strategy | Defence Readiness

Operation Sindoor represents a calibrated shift in India’s counter-terror strategy. Discuss its significance in India’s evolving security doctrine. What challenges does India face in maintaining such a posture while preventing escalation?

✅ Model Answer:

Introduction:
India’s Operation Sindoor (May 2025) marks a strategic, surgical military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were killed. Unlike past operations, this mission used precision-guided munitions, avoided military targets, and was publicly declared, signalling a new era of targeted counter-terror deterrence underpinned by proportionality and technological superiority.

🔍 Significance of Operation Sindoor in India’s Security Doctrine:

Shift to Precision Response Doctrine:
Moves beyond traditional defensive postures (Cold Start or ‘strategic restraint’) to pre-emptive and proportionate retaliation against terror infrastructure.
Avoiding Civilian and Military Collateral Damage:
The deliberate exclusion of Pakistani military and civilian sites preserved India’s moral high ground and adhered to international humanitarian law.
First Combat Use of BrahMos-A:
India showcased the air-launched variant of the BrahMos missile, marking technological maturity in stand-off precision strikes.
Strategic Messaging:
Public naming (“Sindoor”) and calibrated diplomacy reflected strategic signalling—balancing assertiveness with restraint to reassure allies and deter adversaries.
Unified Civil-Military Response:
Coordinated action between intelligence agencies, the armed forces, and the political leadership ensured speed, secrecy, and effectiveness.

⚠️ Challenges in Sustaining Such a Posture:

Challenge	Explanation
Risk of Escalation	Even targeted strikes can trigger full-scale conflict if misinterpreted.
International Perception Management	India must ensure that global forums support its doctrine of active self-defence.
Technological Dependence	Long-term sustainability requires indigenous R&D in precision weaponry and surveillance.
Asymmetric Retaliation	Pakistan or non-state actors may resort to cyberattacks or low-intensity insurgency in response.
Humanitarian Optics	Managing fallout if civilian areas near terror hubs are affected by misfires or faulty intelligence.

🛠️ Recommendations:

Doctrine Codification:
Clearly articulate a “Doctrine of Controlled Retaliation”—informed by proportionality, legality, and national interest.
Global Narrative Building:
Frame India’s actions within the UN Charter’s Article 51 (Right to Self-Defence); engage in proactive diplomacy with G20, UN, and neighbours.
Technological Investment:
Scale up indigenous capacity in drones, cyber-intelligence, AI-guided targeting, and electronic warfare.
Civil-Military Fusion:
Establish a permanent integrated command for real-time decision-making during crises.
Deterrence Through Preparedness:
Create visible deterrence through forward deployment, surveillance, and public drills without provoking escalation.

🧩 Conclusion:

Operation Sindoor represents a measured but firm departure from India’s earlier strategic restraint. By combining technological strength, legal precision, and calibrated aggression, it sets a precedent for future anti-terror operations. However, sustaining such a strategy requires mature diplomacy, resilient infrastructure, and institutional clarity to deter aggression while preventing uncontrolled conflict.

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