Daily Mains Question - GS 3 - 17th July 2025
- TPP
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — designed to help you decode the complex security implications of the dark web, a rising concern under GS Paper 3 in the Cybersecurity and Internal Security domain. Today’s answer critically assesses how this hidden layer of the internet poses a multi-dimensional threat to India’s national security architecture and digital ecosystem.
This topic links core themes such as cybercrime proliferation, digital anonymity, encrypted networks, law enforcement challenges, and transnational threats. It reflects the growing intersection of technology with issues of governance, crime prevention, and sovereignty in the digital age.
By examining the structural nature of the dark web, its functioning through tools like Tor, its use in illicit markets, and its impact on agencies like CERT-In and the NCB, this answer offers a comprehensive view of how non-visible cyber domains are reshaping India’s internal security priorities. Aspirants will gain clarity on the operational, legal, and technological challenges posed by the dark web — enabling them to craft well-informed, fact-rich, and balanced answers in the UPSC Mains examination.
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QUESTION
Discuss how the dark web poses an evolving challenge to cybersecurity and internal security in India.
Answer: The dark web is a concealed part of the internet, inaccessible through standard search engines and only reachable via specialized browsers like Tor (The Onion Router). Originally developed by the US Naval Research Laboratory in the 1990s to safeguard government communications, it now plays a dual role — serving both legitimate users like whistleblowers and malicious actors involved in cybercrime and illegal trade.
Challenges Posed by the Dark Web
1. Cybersecurity Threats
The dark web is a hub for cybercriminal marketplaces, where stolen data (Aadhaar numbers, credit card details, etc.), malware, ransomware, and hacking services are traded.
India ranked 4th globally in the number of cyberattacks in 2022 (CERT-In report), with many linked to dark web activities.
Tools for phishing, DDoS attacks, and zero-day exploits are routinely available, allowing even low-skilled individuals to launch sophisticated cyberattacks.
2. Internal Security Risks
Dark web platforms have been used for drug trafficking, arms trade, terror financing, and radical propaganda.
Notorious marketplaces such as Silk Road and its successors facilitated transactions using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, complicating enforcement and tracking.
According to NCB sources, vendors are graded by the potency of drugs and customer services — “Level-four vendors” like “Edison” reportedly operated from India, indicating organized digital narco-networks.
3. Anonymity and Jurisdictional Barriers
Tor encrypts traffic via multiple nodes, masking user identity and location, making law enforcement tracing extremely difficult.
Cross-border servers and jurisdictional ambiguities hamper coordination between national and international agencies.
4. Digital and Financial Ecosystem Vulnerability
Use of cryptocurrencies on the dark web facilitates money laundering and anonymous transactions, bypassing traditional financial oversight mechanisms.
India’s digital ecosystem, which includes over 850 million internet users, is increasingly exposed to such hidden platforms.
Positive Uses (with Caveats)
While primarily associated with illegality, the dark web also enables:
Secure communication for journalists, whistleblowers, and activists under repressive regimes.
Tools like SecureDrop enable safe, anonymous disclosures.
Way Forward
Strengthening institutional capacity: Agencies like CERT-In, NCIIPC, and NCB need upgraded technical surveillance tools and real-time data analytics.
International cooperation: India must deepen partnerships through forums like INTERPOL, UNODC, and Budapest Convention (India is not yet a member).
Public awareness and cyber hygiene campaigns should be intensified, especially among youth.
Legislative and regulatory reforms, especially around cryptocurrency, are essential for effective digital monitoring.
The dark web poses a dynamic and layered threat to India’s cybersecurity and internal security. While it offers anonymity and privacy, these features also enable illicit trade, cybercrime, and transnational threats. As India's digital footprint expands, a multi-pronged approach combining technology, policy, and international collaboration is crucial to address these evolving challenges.
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