The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding? (UPSC 2017)

Terrorism weakens public trust, disturbs economic activity and challenges the sovereignty of the State. Its nature has changed: along with organised networks, lone-actor attacks, digital propaganda and cross-border support now make it harder to detect and punish.

• Strengthen intelligence and coordination: build real-time sharing among police, intelligence and border agencies; use data analytics, AI and joint task forces for early warning and swift response.
• Secure borders and coasts: improve surveillance, fencing, coastal radar, drone monitoring and coordination with neighbouring countries to stop infiltration, arms movement and movement of cadres.
• Break radicalisation cycles: monitor online hate networks, counter extremist narratives, involve community leaders, and promote education, youth engagement and deradicalisation programmes.
• Modernise police and justice systems: better training, forensic capacity, cyber skills, time-bound investigation and speedy trials reduce impunity and deter recruitment.
• Target terror finance: freeze assets quickly, track suspicious transactions, regulate digital finance, and tighten oversight of charities, shell firms and front organisations.
• Promote development and inclusion: address unemployment, alienation and grievances in vulnerable areas through fair governance, local participation and welfare delivery.

A successful strategy must combine hard security, financial disruption, legal deterrence and social resilience. Terrorism can be curbed only by choking its money, isolating its recruiters and making the State faster, smarter and more inclusive.