Std 9 Political Science – Chapter 3: India’s Defence System

Chapter 3 – India’s Defence System

Standard 9 · Political Science · Maharashtra State Board · Textbook Solutions

Q1. (A) Choose the correct option and complete the statements.

(1) The ______ of India is the Commander-in-Chief of all the Defence Forces.

(a) Prime Minister

(b) President

(c) Defence Minister

(d) Governor

Ans: Option (b) – President

(2) The …………….. has the responsibility of protecting the coastline.

(a) Army

(b) Coast Guard

(c) Border Security Force

(d) Rapid Action Force

Ans: Option (b) – Coast Guard

(3) The …………….. has been established with the purpose of instilling among students the love of discipline and military training.

(a) Border Security Force (BSF)

(b) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

(c) National Cadet Corps (NCC)

(d) Rapid Action Force (RAF)

Ans: Option (c) – National Cadet Corps (NCC)

Q2. State whether the following statements are true or false. Give reasons for your answer.

(1) It is necessary to end terrorism to ensure human security.

Ans: The above statement is True.

Reason:

  1. The biggest challenge to human security is that of terrorism.
  2. It is the biggest challenge to India’s internal security, and now it is a global problem.
  3. Terrorism targets common, innocent people.
  4. It aims at creating terror or fear in the minds of the people so that they begin to feel insecure.
  5. Therefore, it is necessary to put an end to terrorism to ensure human security.

(2) Every nation creates a strong security system for itself.

Ans: The above statement is True.

Reason:

  1. There is always a possibility of conflict of interest among the nations.
  2. A nation attacks another, challenges its sovereignty, and endangers its security.
  3. In such a situation, it is the duty of a nation to defend itself.
  4. For this purpose, every nation creates a strong security system for itself.

(3) There are no issues of dispute between India and Pakistan.

Ans: The above statement is False.

Reason:

  1. Pakistan has tried to threaten India’s national security since independence.
  2. India and Pakistan have a dispute over the Kashmir issue, river water sharing, the problem of infiltration, and the border dispute.
  3. India and Pakistan have gone to war in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999 (Kargil).

Q3. Explain the following concepts.

(1) The functions of the Rapid Action Force

Ans:
  1. The Rapid Action Force is a paramilitary force.
  2. It performs the task of bringing people’s lives back to normalcy by moving quickly in incidents of threat to national security, such as bomb blasts or riots.

(2) Human Security

Ans:
  1. The term national security has become broader in the post-Cold War period and also includes the security of the people living within the country.
  2. Human security refers to human-centric thinking. It is expected that human beings should be protected from dangers and given the opportunities of education, health, and development.
  3. It also includes the idea that a conducive environment should be created for everybody to live a respectable life by overcoming illiteracy, poverty, superstition, and backwardness.
  4. Human security necessitates the protection of the rights of minorities and weaker sections.

(3) Home Guard

Ans:
  1. The organisation ‘Home Guards’ was established in the pre-independence period to enable the citizens to assist the defence forces.
  2. Any citizen in the age group of 20 to 35 years can join the Home Guards.
  3. The Home Guards maintain public security.
  4. They supply milk, water, and other essential services during times of riots or strikes.
  5. They regulate traffic and help people in times of natural disasters.

Q4. Answer the following questions in brief.

(1) What are the threats to national security?

Ans:
  1. China and Pakistan are the biggest threats to India’s security.
  2. Terrorism is the biggest internal threat to India’s internal security.
  3. Religion, regionalism, several rebellious movements based on ideology, race, ethnicity, and economic inequality are creating instability and are also threats to India’s internal security.
  4. The Naxalite movement is a threat to India’s internal security.

(2) Write the functions of the Border Security Force.

Ans: The functions of the Border Security Force are as follows:
  1. They create a sense of security in the minds of people living in areas near the border.
  2. They prevent smuggling.
  3. They patrol the border.

Q5. Complete the activity as per the given instructions.

(1) Complete the table about security forces.

Ans:

Name of the Security ForcesFunctionsChiefName of the Present Chief
ArmyProtection of geographical boundariesGeneralGeneral Dhiraj Seth
NavyProtection of the coast lineAdmiralAdmiral Dinesh K. Tripathi
Air ForceProtection of India’s air spaceAir Chief MarshalAir Chief Marshal A. P. Singh

(2) Complete the diagram: Challenges in front of India’s Security System.

Ans:

Disputes between India and Pakistan – Kashmir issue, disputes over river water sharing, the problem of infiltration, disputes over the border
Terrorism is the biggest challenge to India’s internal security. It is a global problem and India is making efforts to end terrorism.
Challenges in front of India’s Security System
India and China – 1962 War; China established its own hegemony over countries that are India’s neighbours; a dispute between India and China over their borders
Religion, regionalism, several rebellious movements based on ideology, race-ethnicity and economic inequality are creating instability. E.g. The Naxalite Movement.

Note: Service chiefs change on retirement. The names above were checked in October 2026 – please re-verify before the exam year.

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