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UPSC Notes

State's Role in Internal Security and Law & Order

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

UPSC examines the constitutional division of powers, the effectiveness of state machinery in maintaining law and order, the challenges faced by police forces, and the overall governance framework for internal security, especially in the context of terrorism and extremism.

In India's federal structure, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are subjects under the State List (Entry 2 and 1 respectively of List II, Seventh Schedule), making state governments primarily responsible for maintaining law and order and addressing internal security challenges within their jurisdiction. This involves the deployment of state police forces for crime prevention, investigation, and counter-terrorism operations.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Constitutional Basis

Police and Public Order are State Subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Primary Responders

State police forces are the primary agencies for maintaining daily law and order and responding to internal security threats like terrorism.

Coordination

Effective internal security management requires robust intelligence gathering, quick response mechanisms, and inter-state as well as Centre-State coordination.

Challenges

Key challenges include police modernization, capacity building, accountability, and addressing root causes of extremism.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaIndian Polity & Governance

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Punjab PoliceImplements
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Statement-based questions

Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions

Quick revision

  • Police & Public Order: State List subjects (Seventh Schedule).
  • State Police: Primary agency for internal security and law enforcement.
  • Challenges: Modernization, capacity, accountability, political interference.
  • Coordination: Essential between State Police, CAPFs, and intelligence agencies.
  • Constitutional basis: Articles related to law & order and Seventh Schedule.

High-confidence PYQs

2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Indian PolityOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Indian PolityOpen question
2023Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Indian PolityOpen question
2021Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. When a prisoner makes out a sufficient case, parole cannot be denied to such prisoner because ...

Indian PolityOpen question
2019Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense pol...

Indian PolityOpen question
2016Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -

Indian PolityOpen question

Topic timeline

Indian Polity & Governance
Prelims 2016· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -

Open question
Prelims 2019· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense pol...

Open question
Prelims 2021· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. When a prisoner makes out a sufficient case, parole cannot be denied to such prisoner because ...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

Open question

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

Open question

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

Open question

40 years ago September 11, 1986: Punjab Police nab 13 terrorists

11 Sep 2026 · State governments, through their police forces, are constitutionally mandated to maintain law and order and tackle internal security threats like terrorism, operating within India's federal framework, facing challenges in modernization and coordination.

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Related topics

Current topic

State's Role in Internal Security and Law & Order

Often confused with

Ethical Dilemmas and Accountability in Law Enforcement

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on State's Role in Internal Security and Law & Order in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on State's Role in Internal Security and Law & Order

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place...

2023·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

2025·Indian Polity
Solve

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

2023·Indian Polity
Solve

The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -

2016·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

2025·Indian Polity
Solve

Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense pol...

2019·Indian Polity
Solve

With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. When a prisoner makes out a sufficient case, parole cannot be denied to such prisoner because ...

2021·Indian Polity
Solve

With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above wer...

2025·Indian Polity
Solve

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