3) Kashmir stands today at the cusp of a new and dangerous phase. Comment in the context of the present turmoil in Kashmir.(250 words) 

Topic-Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

3) Kashmir stands today at the cusp of a new and dangerous phase. Comment in the context of the present turmoil in Kashmir.(250 words) 

The hindu

Why this question

The recent report about the spate in the number of casualties in Kashmir and a handful of other incidents point out to the grim situation in Kashmir today. It is therefore important to discuss the present situation and bring out the reasons behind the same.

Directive word

Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding of the present situation in Kashmir and express our opinion as to why/ why not Kashmir is at the cusp of a new and dangerous phase.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the  increase in number of casualties in Kashmir witnessed during the past few years. E.g 2018 has turned out to be the worst for the j&k state, with nearly 50 policemen & dozens of civilians killed, hundreds of militants neutralized etc.

Body-

Discuss why the present situation is critical and at the cusp of a new and dangerous phase. E.g

Four years of mismanaged politics have plunged J&K into its worst ever cycle of violence and confusion; failure to sustain democracy in the state as the recent dissolution of the assembly denotes; Over the past three years, South Kashmir had been the main epicentre of violence, but more recently, North and Central Kashmir have also emerged as violence prone;  This year has witnessed some of the highest levels of violence since 1989; Areas such as Srinagar which had previously been declared a ‘militancy free zone’ have again witnessed a series of militant attacks; a distinct feature of the situation in Kashmir today is the divide between the administration and the populace, which is possibly at its widest today; mention the turnout in recent years in the elections held for the local bodies etc.

Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.