Answer: Terror drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which are used by hostile neighboring countries and terrorist groups for hostile reconnaissance, drug, weapon, explosive, and ammunition smuggling into India. These drones are regularly flown from Pakistan into the Indian territories of Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat and UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Terror drones pose a serious threat to Internal Security of India

• Smuggling: There have been several instances where drones have been used by the anti-national elements to smuggle drugs, arms and ammunition, IED, etc into the bordering Indian territories.
• Cross-border terrorism: Drones are used in perpetuating cross border terrorism. 
• In June 2021, an Indian Air Force base in Jammu was attacked by two Drones loaded with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).
• Surveillance by hostile neighboring countries: Drones have been repeatedly used by Pakistan and China for intelligence gathering along the border areas.
• Used for Propaganda: They are frequently used to film their terror attacks on crowded or vulnerable sites. They release the footage of these events to create a sense of fear among people.

• Target critical assets: UAVs can be weaponized to target critical assets like Parliament , Rashtrapti bhavan, Nuclear instalments, Oil rigs etc. 
• For example, Houthi rebels used weaponized UAVs to attack the Oil rigs of Saudi arabia.

To Counter this evolving threat from the use of drones, Indian government has been proactive in devising plans at various levels:

• Legal:  Government has formulated National Counter rogue drone guidelines, 2019 to provide a legal framework to deal with the emerging threats posed by UAVs. 
• Institutional: MHA has established the Anti Rogue Drone Technology Committee (ARDTC) under supervision of DG BSF with the mandate to evaluate the technology available to counter rogue drones and certify its effectiveness in dealing with rogue drones.
• Technological: DRDO has been developing Counter Drone systems which can detect, track and identify airborne drones using multiple sensors. They can transfer the information to associated systems and enable counter techniques to deny them the intended operation (soft kill) and/or destroy them (hard kill).
• The DRDO-developed anti drone system can detect and jam micro-drones up to 3 km and use a laser to bring down a target up to 1-2.5 kilometres depending on the wattage of the laser weapon.
• Intelligence: The security agencies along borders conduct detailed vulnerability mapping along the border to deploy additional surveillance vehicles and special equipment. They have installed integrated surveillance technology equipped with cameras, sensors, and alarms with a command-and-control system at the International Border. 
• Operational: The Border security agencies conduct round-the-clock surveillance through patrolling, checkpoints, and observation posts. 
• Federal Aspect: MHA is promoting Border States to develop their own Counter Drone Policies.
• Information, Education and communication: The general public in border areas have been sensitised and made aware of such UAV/Drone activities, their likely security implications 
• International Cooperation:  India is actively collaborating with Israel in developing its anti-Drone Technological ecosystem . 

With the emergence of complex or advanced technologies, securing our borders and ensuring internal security becomes increasingly crucial. This can only be achieved through strong institutional development and seamless coordination between Technological and Security Agencies, then India will be able to effectively counter the threat.