UPSC Mains 2025 GS3 Q19: model answer
What are the major challenges to internal security and peace process in the North-Eastern States ? Map the various peace accords and agreements initiated by the government in the past decade.
What the question wants
Security challenges in the North-East and a decade-wise list of accords.
How to structure it
Intro: The North-East is linked to the mainland by the narrow Siliguri corridor Body: (1) Challenges; (2) Peace accords of the past decade; (3) Outcome; (4) Gaps. Conclusion: Accords stop the guns; development, fair land rules and trust between communities keep the peace.
- 1(1) Challenges
- 2(2) Peace accords of the past decade
- 3(3) Outcome
- 4(4) Gaps
Model answer
The North-East is linked to the mainland by the narrow Siliguri corridor and shares borders with China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Its ethnic diversity has produced many armed movements, though violence has fallen sharply in the last decade.
- 2015Naga Framework Agreement
- 2020Bru-Reang agreement; Bodo Accord
- 2021Karbi Anglong Agreement
- 2022Assam-Meghalaya boundary pact; Adivasi accord
- 2023DNLA; UNLF; ULFA (pro-talks); Assam-Arunachal boundary
- 2024NLFT-ATTF agreement, Tripura
Challenges
- Ethnic conflict: Meitei-Kuki-Zo violence in Manipur since May 2023, with over 250 deaths and large displacement.
- Porous Myanmar border: civil war there brings refugees, arms and drugs; the Free Movement Regime was scrapped in 2024.
- Unresolved Naga issue: NSCN (I-M)'s demand for a separate flag and constitution.
- Inter-State boundary disputes: Assam-Mizoram clash (2021).
- Narcotics and extortion funding armed groups.
- Identity and land fears over migration; AFSPA-related trust deficit.
Peace accords of the past decade
- 2015: Naga Framework Agreement with NSCN (I-M).
- 2020: Bru-Reang agreement (settlement in Tripura); third Bodo Accord.
- 2021: Karbi Anglong Agreement.
- 2022: Assam-Meghalaya boundary pact (six areas); Adivasi peace accord in Assam.
- 2023: Assam-Arunachal boundary agreement; DNLA accord; UNLF (Pambei) peace agreement in Manipur; ULFA (pro-talks faction) memorandum.
- 2024: NLFT and ATTF agreement in Tripura.
Outcome: thousands of militants surrendered; AFSPA withdrawn from large parts of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
Gaps: slow implementation, Manipur's crisis, Naga talks stalled.
Accords stop the guns; development, fair land rules and trust between communities keep the peace.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
Manipur 2023 FMR Naga Framework 2015 Bodo Accord 2020 Karbi 2021 ULFA 2023 AFSPA rollback
Where most answers lose marks
- Not giving dates for accords.
- Ignoring Manipur.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC question paper: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/GENERAL-STUDIES-PAPER-III-QP-CSM-25-010925.pdf The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.