Class 9 Political Science Chapter 7: Security in the Contemporary World – 30 MCQs with Detailed Answers

Since the 2024–25 rationalization, CBSE Political Science emphasizes competency-based learning. MCQs are the preferred format because they: 1. **Test Concept Depth, Not Rote Memory**: An MCQ on 'traditional vs. non-traditional security' forces you to distinguish between state-centric military threats (e.g., border conflicts) and diffuse risks like cyberattacks or resource scarcity. You can't memorize your way through; you must understand. 2. **Reward Speed + Accuracy**: In a 3-hour exam, 50–60% of the paper is now MCQ. Each question carries 1 mark. You have ~45 seconds per MCQ. This teaches exam discipline. 3. **Eliminate Guesswork via Assertion–Reason**: CBSE increasingly uses two-statement MCQs (Assertion–Reason format), where you must evaluate both the claim *and* its cause. These test logical thinking, not luck. 4. **Align with Real-World Problem-Solving**: Chapter 7 focuses on how nations (especially India) balance traditional military preparedness with emerging non-traditional threats. An MCQ about 'why India invested in cybersecurity after the 2019 Balakot strikes' bridges textbook theory and current affairs—exactly what CBSE now values. 5. **Reduce Subjective Marking Errors**: Unlike essays, MCQs have one correct answer. This ensures fairness and faster results across 15 lakh+ Class 9 students. The chapters on security, however, are not just about memorizing definitions. They require you to grasp *why* nations are threatened differently today than in 1947, and *how* policies must evolve. That's where these 30 questions come in.

**Question 1** Which of the following is an example of traditional security threat? A) Cybercrime B) Cross-border military invasion C) Pandemics D) Climate change **Answer: B** | Traditional security refers to state-led, military threats (wars, invasions, borders); non-traditional covers diffuse, non-military risks. **Question 2** Non-traditional security includes: A) Fighter jets and naval fleets B) Terrorism, disease outbreaks, and resource scarcity C) Diplomatic treaties only D) Arms control agreements **Answer: B** | Non-traditional security encompasses human, economic, and environmental threats that bypass state borders. **Question 3** Which institution in India is primarily responsible for internal security? A) Ministry of Defence B) Ministry of Home Affairs C) Election Commission D) Reserve Bank of India **Answer: B** | The Ministry of Home Affairs oversees domestic security, law & order, and disaster management in India. **Question 4** What does 'SAARC' stand for? A) South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation B) South Asian Alliance for Regional Commerce C) South Asian Authority for Resource Control D) South Asian Agreement for Regional Conflict **Answer: A** | SAARC (est. 1985) is the regional body for South Asian nations to address common security & development challenges. **Question 5** Which of the following is a non-traditional security challenge addressed in Chapter 7? A) Naval blockades B) Nuclear weapons proliferation C) Terrorism and communal violence D) Border disputes **Answer: C** | Terrorism and communal violence are transnational, non-state-centric threats central to modern security. **Question 6** The 26/11 Mumbai attacks (2008) are an example of: A) Traditional security (external military threat) B) Non-traditional security (cross-border terrorism) C) Economic espionage D) Environmental degradation **Answer: B** | 26/11 demonstrates how terrorist networks bypass formal military structures, making it a non-traditional security threat. **Question 7** Which country does India share its longest land border with? A) Pakistan B) China C) Bangladesh D) Myanmar **Answer: B** | China (3,488 km). Border tensions with China (1962 war, 2020 Galwan clash) remain a traditional security concern. **Question 8** Cybersecurity is classified as a non-traditional security threat because: A) It involves only civilian hackers B) It is not governed by international law C) It affects critical infrastructure, banking, and governance across borders without armed conflict D) It is less important than military threats **Answer: C** | Cyberattacks on power grids, hospitals, and financial systems blur the line between military and civilian threats. **Question 9** The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address security by: A) Building more weapons B) Reducing poverty, ensuring health, and protecting the environment to eliminate root causes of conflict C) Isolating nations from trade D) Increasing military spending **Answer: B** | SDGs recognize that development, equality, and environmental health reduce insecurity and prevent conflicts. **Question 10** Which of the following is NOT a security sector reform in India? A) Modernizing the armed forces B) Strengthening cybersecurity frameworks C) Eliminating poverty entirely D) Enhancing coastal security **Answer: C** | While poverty reduction aids long-term security, eliminating it entirely is not a specific security sector reform; the others are active policy areas.

**Question 11** Compare India's security strategy post-2014. Which statement is true? A) India abandoned traditional security concerns to focus solely on non-traditional threats. B) India adopted a dual approach: modernizing armed forces (traditional) while investing in cyber defence and disaster management (non-traditional). C) India increased defence spending but ignored internal terrorism. D) India aligned entirely with Western military alliances. **Answer: B** | The Modi government's security doctrine balances conventional deterrence (e.g., surgical strikes in 2019) with non-traditional resilience (Smart Cities, climate action). **Question 12** The 2012 Indo-Japanese security agreement focused on: A) Only naval cooperation in the Pacific B) Counterterrorism and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region C) Joint weapons manufacturing D) Trade agreements **Answer: B** | The India–Japan security alliance addresses non-traditional threats (piracy, terrorism, maritime law) in shared waters. **Question 13** Which scenario best illustrates the intersection of traditional and non-traditional security? A) A naval exercise between two nations B) A cyberattack on a military command centre by a hostile state C) A diplomatic summit D) A trade dispute **Answer: B** | Cyberattacks on military infrastructure blur traditional (state-actor threats) and non-traditional (digital, diffuse) security. **Question 14** India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was created to address: A) Only earthquake preparedness B) Traditional military threats C) Non-traditional security challenges like natural disasters, floods, and pandemics D) Border security exclusively **Answer: C** | NDMA (est. 2005) reflects India's recognition that disasters are security risks requiring institutional coordination. **Question 15** The Balakot surgical strikes (2019) and subsequent cyber incidents between India and Pakistan exemplify: A) The irrelevance of traditional security B) The coexistence of traditional military actions and non-traditional digital retaliation in modern conflicts C) The end of border disputes D) India's military superiority **Answer: B** | Post-2019, Indo-Pakistani tensions played out across conventional (air strikes) and digital (cybercrime) domains simultaneously. **Question 16** Which of the following countries faced a significant non-traditional security crisis that Chapter 7 emphasizes? A) Germany (border disputes) B) Australia (bushfires as security risk to critical infrastructure) C) France (naval blockade) D) Brazil (only territorial disputes) **Answer: B** | The 2019–20 Australian bushfires exemplify how environmental degradation becomes a security issue affecting food, water, and displacement. **Question 17** India's Look East / Act East policy primarily addresses which security concern? A) Preventing Western military dominance B) Reducing Chinese naval influence and building regional partnerships in Southeast Asia C) Creating a military bloc against Pakistan D) Isolating Russia **Answer: B** | This policy engages ASEAN nations to counter China's strategic expansion and address transnational maritime threats. **Question 18** The term 'human security' in Chapter 7 refers to: A) Protection of national borders only B) Security of individuals from poverty, disease, violence, and environmental hazards—not just state-level military security C) Military training for civilians D) Intelligence gathering **Answer: B** | Human security broadens the definition beyond states to include individual well-being and dignity as foundational to peace. **Question 19** Which international organization plays a key role in addressing non-traditional security threats like terrorism and cybercrime? A) NATO B) OPEC C) The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) D) The World Trade Organization **Answer: C** | UNODC coordinates global responses to transnational organized crime, trafficking, and terrorism—quintessential non-traditional threats. **Question 20** India's National Cybercrime Reporting Portal reflects recognition that: A) Only large corporations face cyber threats B) Cybersecurity is a secondary concern C) Cybercrime is a pervasive non-traditional security issue requiring citizen awareness and institutional response D) Hackers are solely external state actors **Answer: C** | The portal acknowledges that cybersecurity must be democratized—citizens, not just the military, are stakeholders in digital defence.

**Question 21** **Assertion (A):** India's National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam is primarily a traditional security measure. **Reason (R):** The NRC was designed to prevent illegal cross-border migration and protect national borders, aligning with state-centric security doctrine. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: A** | NRC explicitly addresses border control and citizenship verification—core traditional security concerns. The reason accurately explains the assertion. **Question 22** **Assertion (A):** The 2019 COVID-19 pandemic proved that pandemics are now recognized as security threats at the national level in India. **Reason (R):** India's Ministry of Defence was made responsible for pandemic response. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: B** | Assertion is correct: pandemics became security issues (disrupted supply chains, defence readiness). But Reason is incorrect: health response was under Ministry of Health, not Defence. A and R are both true, but R doesn't explain A correctly. **Question 23** **Assertion (A):** India's emphasis on renewable energy and climate action (SDG 13) is an indirect security strategy. **Reason (R):** Climate change causes resource scarcity, migration, and conflict, making environmental security inseparable from traditional security. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: A** | Both statements are correct. Climate policy indirectly addresses security by reducing environmental degradation, a root cause of non-traditional threats. The reason explains the assertion perfectly. **Question 24** **Assertion (A):** The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) includes India and China despite border tensions. **Reason (R):** Non-traditional security threats like terrorism and cybercrime are so pervasive that rival nations cooperate on these issues even during military standoffs. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: A** | SCO (founded 2001) indeed includes India and China. The reason is accurate: both nations cooperate on counterterrorism in Central Asia despite the 2020 Galwan clash, exemplifying how non-traditional threats override traditional rivalry. **Question 25** **Assertion (A):** India's civilian nuclear agreement with the US (2008) is purely a traditional security measure. **Reason (R):** The agreement enables India to generate non-carbon energy, reducing climate-related insecurity while diversifying energy security. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: D** | Assertion is false: the nuclear deal addresses both traditional (deterrence, geopolitical alignment with US) and non-traditional (energy security, climate) goals. Reason is true and explains why the assertion is incomplete. **Question 26** **Assertion (A):** The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in India treats terrorism exclusively as a military problem. **Reason (R):** Terrorism involves non-state actors using violence for political objectives, requiring intelligence, law enforcement, and community engagement—not just armed force. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: D** | Assertion is false: NCTC uses multi-sector approaches (intelligence, civilian coordination). Reason is true and explains why the assertion is incorrect. **Question 27** **Assertion (A):** The India–Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (2015) resolved all India's non-traditional security concerns in the Northeast. **Reason (R):** While resolving border disputes (traditional security), it alone cannot address transnational issues like human trafficking and organized crime. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: D** | Assertion is false: border agreements don't resolve trafficking, piracy, or cybercrime. Reason is true and explains why traditional security fixes don't address non-traditional threats comprehensively. **Question 28** **Assertion (A):** India's Ayushman Bharat scheme (universal health coverage) has no connection to security policy. **Reason (R):** Health security is a non-traditional security issue; pandemics, malnutrition, and disease spread directly affect state capacity and stability. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: D** | Assertion is false: Ayushman Bharat directly strengthens human security, a foundation for broader state security. Reason is true and explains the connection. **Question 29** **Assertion (A):** India's military modernization (Rafale fighter jets, submarines) contradicts the non-traditional security framework discussed in Chapter 7. **Reason (R):** Modern security strategy requires both traditional deterrence (armed forces) and non-traditional resilience (cyber defence, disaster management), not replacement of one by the other. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: D** | Assertion is false: Chapter 7 advocates integration, not replacement. Reason is true and explains why traditional + non-traditional security are complementary, not contradictory. **Question 30** **Assertion (A):** Russia's invasion of Ukraine (2022) is entirely a traditional security event, irrelevant to non-traditional security discussions. **Reason (R):** The war triggered food and energy crises (non-traditional insecurity for Global South), displaced millions (human security crisis), and accelerated cyberwarfare and information warfare—blending traditional and non-traditional domains. A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. **Answer: D** | Assertion is false: the Ukraine war illustrates how modern conflicts entangle traditional and non-traditional threats. Reason is true and provides the evidence.

CBSE MCQs on Chapter 7 are designed to catch careless readers. Here are the most common traps: **Trap 1: Conflating Traditional with Military-Only** *Example:* 'Assertion: Border disputes are traditional security threats. Reason: Only the military can resolve them.' The assertion is true, but the reason is incomplete. Border disputes are traditional, but resolution involves diplomacy, treaties, and international law—not just military force. Watch for options that oversimplify. **Trap 2: Assuming Non-Traditional Threats Are New** *Example:* 'Terrorism is a non-traditional security threat, so it emerged only after 2000.' False. Non-traditional threats have ancient roots; the classification is new. Pandemics, famines, and communal violence existed for centuries. Chapter 7 re-frames them as security issues, not as newly invented threats. **Trap 3: Either/Or Thinking** *Example:* 'India must choose between modernizing its military OR investing in cybersecurity.' This is a trap. Modern states pursue both simultaneously. Options that force a binary choice (A or B, not both) are usually incorrect. The correct answer often includes integration or complementarity. **Trap 4: Mistaking Cooperation for Resolution** *Example:* 'Because India and China cooperate in SCO, border tensions no longer exist.' India–China cooperation on terrorism doesn't erase border disputes. Be careful: options claiming that cooperation solves all conflicts are false. Governments can work together on some issues while remaining adversarial on others. **Trap 5: Confusing Institutions with Mandates** *Example:* 'The Ministry of Defence handles cybersecurity; therefore, cybersecurity is a traditional security issue.' Institutional overlap doesn't determine classification. Cybersecurity is non-traditional because it's diffuse, transnational, and doesn't require declared wars. Don't assume an institution's involvement defines the threat category. **Trap 6: Overgeneralizing from One Example** *Example:* 'Because India faced terrorism in Kashmir, all terrorism in India is a border security issue.' Wrong. Terrorism spans internal (Mumbai bombings), external (cross-border militants), and cyber domains. Options that limit scope to one region or one type of actor are usually trap answers. **Trap 7: Assuming SDGs Are Only Development Goals** *Example:* 'SDGs focus on poverty reduction and have nothing to do with security.' This misses the point. SDGs address the root causes of conflict (poverty, inequality, environmental degradation), making them integral to security policy—not just charity. **Trap 8: Mixing Up Dates and Events** *Example:* 'The 2019 COVID-19 pandemic proved...' (COVID started in 2019–20, not announced in 2019). Always verify timelines. CBSE loves trapping students who memorize facts but muddle dates. **Strategy to Avoid Traps:** 1. **Read the Question Stem Carefully**: Underline key words (e.g., 'NOT', 'both', 'primarily'). 2. **Eliminate Absolutes**: Avoid options with 'always', 'never', 'only', 'all', 'entirely' unless the question is explicitly absolute. 3. **Check the Reason in Assertion–Reason MCQs**: A can be true, but R might be false or irrelevant. Test both separately before choosing. 4. **Cross-Reference with NCERT**: If an option contradicts the textbook, it's likely a trap. CBSE values textbook accuracy. 5. **Think Context**: Ask, 'In the context of Chapter 7, does this make sense?' Trap answers often work in isolation but fail in chapter context.

In your CBSE Class 9 exam, Political Science is a 90-minute paper (typically 80 marks). Chapter 7 (Security) might account for 8–12 marks (~10–15% of the paper). Here's how to maximize your score: **Phase 1: Pre-Exam Preparation (2 Weeks Before)** - Solve all 30 MCQs in this guide in three sittings (one per difficulty level). - Time yourself: 10 easy MCQs in 7 minutes (42 seconds each), 10 medium in 8 minutes, 10 hard in 10 minutes. - If you exceed time, it means you're overthinking. Practice decisiveness. - Review wrong answers immediately. Note the concept you missed, not just the answer. **Phase 2: One Week Before** - Solve a full 90-minute mock exam (includes Chapter 7 + other chapters). - Simulate exam conditions: no notes, no breaks, one sitting. - Identify your Chapter 7 weak spots (e.g., 'I always confuse SCO with SAARC'). - Revisit those specific NCERT sections. **Phase 3: Exam Day – Time Allocation** - **Total time: 90 minutes. Chapter 7 time: ~12 minutes (for 10–12 marks in MCQ).** - **Minutes 0–5:** Scan the entire paper. Circle Chapter 7 MCQs without reading deeply yet. - **Minutes 5–17:** Tackle Chapter 7 MCQs in this order: 1. **Easy MCQs first (3–4 minutes).** These are confidence-builders. Aim for 100% accuracy. 2. **Medium MCQs next (5–6 minutes).** Read the question twice. Eliminate obviously wrong options, then decide. 3. **Hard Assertion–Reason MCQs last (4–5 minutes).** For these, read R first, then A. Does R explain A? Test independently. - **Minutes 17–87:** Tackle other chapters (leave 3 minutes for review). - **Minutes 87–90:** Quick review. If you flagged a Chapter 7 MCQ as 'unsure', revisit it now—but don't flip-flop unless you're certain the original answer was wrong. **Decision Protocol During the Exam:** - **If confident (70%+ sure):** Mark and move. Don't second-guess. - **If moderately sure (50–70%):** Mark your best guess, but mentally flag it for review in the final 3 minutes. - **If unsure (<50%):** Make an educated guess using elimination (rule out 2–3 obviously wrong options), then move. Return only if time permits. **Elimination Technique for Chapter 7:** 1. **Identify the question type:** Is it asking for a definition, example, comparison, or reason? 2. **Eliminate one absolute:** Most wrong options contain 'only', 'always', or 'never'. Strike those. 3. **Eliminate one opposite:** If the question asks about non-traditional threats, eliminate the option listing only traditional threats. 4. **Eliminate one irrelevant:** One option is usually about a different chapter (e.g., economics). Strike it. 5. **Choose from the remaining 1–2:** If you've eliminated three, the last one is likely correct. **Sample Timing for a 12-Mark Chapter 7 Section:** - **Question 1 (Easy, Definitional):** 30 seconds. Answer: B. Move on. - **Question 2 (Easy, Example-Based):** 40 seconds. Answer: C. Move on. - **Question 3 (Medium, Comparison):** 1 minute. Read twice, eliminate one opposite and one irrelevant, decide. Answer: A. - **Question 4 (Medium, Context-Specific):** 1 minute 15 seconds. This might be trickier; invest extra time here. - **Question 5 (Hard, Assertion–Reason):** 1 minute 30 seconds. Read R first. Does it logically support A? Compare options D vs. A carefully. By the time you've completed 5–6 Chapter 7 MCQs, you've used ~6–7 minutes and scored 5–6 marks with high confidence. The final 4–5 minutes are for medium and hard questions requiring deeper thought. **What NOT to Do:** - Don't spend >90 seconds on a single MCQ. Mark, move, and revisit if time remains. - Don't attempt Assertion–Reason MCQs first; they're confidence-drainers. Build momentum with easy questions. - Don't leave Chapter 7 until the very end; by then, you're fatigued and may rush. - Don't change answers in the final minute unless you're certain. Exam anxiety causes flip-flops. **Post-Exam Analysis:** After the exam, don't just check if you passed. Analyze your Chapter 7 performance: - Which concepts tripped you? (E.g., 'traditional vs. non-traditional'? Or specific examples like '2019 Balakot'?) - Did you misread a question or miss a keyword? - Did time pressure cause careless mistakes? This feedback improves your next exam.

Before tackling the MCQs, lock in these definitions. Many students confuse or oversimplify: **Traditional Security (State-Centric, Military-Focused)** - **Focus:** National borders, sovereignty, military power. - **Threats:** Inter-state wars, invasions, nuclear weapons, border disputes. - **Actors:** Governments, armed forces, recognized states. - **Response:** Military deterrence, diplomacy, alliances, treaties. - **Examples:** 1962 Sino-Indian War, 2019 Balakot strikes, Pakistan's nuclear program. - **Key Assumption:** Security = survival of the state. State power = security. **Non-Traditional Security (Human-Centric, Transnational, Diffuse)** - **Focus:** Individuals, ecosystems, economies—not just state borders. - **Threats:** Terrorism, pandemics, cybercrime, climate change, poverty, human trafficking, resource scarcity. - **Actors:** Non-state groups, disease vectors, hackers, refugees, corporations, NGOs. - **Response:** International cooperation, development, disaster management, community resilience, technology. - **Examples:** 26/11 Mumbai attacks, COVID-19 pandemic, Stuxnet cyberattack, Syrian refugee crisis, Amazon deforestation. - **Key Assumption:** Security = well-being of humans. Development = prevention of insecurity. **Critical Overlap (Not Either/Or):** - Modern conflicts entangle both: The Ukraine war involves traditional militaries (tanks, jets) AND non-traditional domains (cyber warfare, food crisis, disinformation). - India's security doctrine balances both: Armed forces (traditional) + NDMA/cybersecurity agencies (non-traditional). - Climate change is both: Nations compete for water/resources (traditional conflict potential) but face collective threats (non-traditional cooperation need). **Why the NCERT Revised This Classification:** - **Cold War Era (Pre-1990s):** Security = nuclear deterrence, border defence. Non-traditional threats were ignored or classified as 'internal affairs'. - **Post-Cold War (1990s–2010):** Globalization, terrorism, pandemics, and digital networks proved that old definitions were incomplete. - **Today (2020s):** States recognize that military strength alone cannot prevent a pandemic, cyberattack, or climate refugee crisis. Both frameworks are essential. With these foundations clear, you're ready to solve the MCQs without confusion.