UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre unveils policy to tackle terror threats

Q1. With reference to recent developments, the 'PRAHAAR — National Counter-Terrorism Policy & Strategy', made public in February 2026, was released by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Defence
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of External Affairs
  • D. Cabinet Secretariat through the National Security Council Secretariat

Q2. With reference to the 'PRAHAAR' policy released by the Government of India in 2026, consider the following as its stated pillars: 1. Prevention of terror attacks 2. Response to threats in a swift and proportionate manner 3. Aggregating Internal Capacities through a whole-of-government approach 4. Recovery and Resilience through an inclusive, whole-of-society approach Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Prevention of terror attacks
  2. Response to threats in a swift and proportionate manner
  3. Aggregating Internal Capacities through a whole-of-government approach
  4. Recovery and Resilience through an inclusive, whole-of-society approach
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. The PRAHAAR National Counter-Terrorism Policy & Strategy (2026) describes India's counter-terror approach as being primarily guided by which one of the following?

  • A. Kinetic-response-led, prioritising rapid deployment of special forces
  • B. Legislation-led, prioritising new statutes over operational doctrine
  • C. Intelligence-Guided, according primacy to intelligence gathering and dissemination to executive agencies
  • D. Diplomacy-led, prioritising bilateral extradition treaties over domestic disruption

Q4. The acronym 'PRAHAAR', adopted for India's National Counter-Terrorism Policy & Strategy released in 2026, is formed from how many guiding pillars?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Nine

Q5. With reference to the 'PRAHAAR' policy of 2026, consider the following as components of its doctrine: 1. Attenuation of conditions that enable terrorism and radicalisation 2. Reduction of India's overall defence expenditure as a share of GDP 3. Alignment and shaping of international efforts to counter terrorism 4. Human rights and rule-of-law based approach while responding to threats Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a pillar of PRAHAAR?

  1. Attenuation of conditions that enable terrorism and radicalisation
  2. Reduction of India's overall defence expenditure as a share of GDP
  3. Alignment and shaping of international efforts to counter terrorism
  4. Human rights and rule-of-law based approach while responding to threats
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only