Counter-terrorism law and institutions back in focus
India's counter-terrorism framework rests on the NIA, created after 26/11, and the UAPA, amended in 2019 to allow individuals to be designated as terrorists.
What is happening
Renewed debate over India's counter-terrorism approach has drawn attention to the legal and institutional framework built up over the past two decades.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was constituted under the NIA Act, 2008, enacted after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, as India's central counter-terrorism investigation agency.
A 2019 amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 empowered the central government to designate individuals, not just organisations, as terrorists.
Key facts
| Topic | Counter-terrorism law and institutions back in focus |
| Syllabus | GS Paper 3 - Internal Security |
| Places | India |
| Keywords | NIA Act 2008, UAPA, counter-terrorism, 26/11 |
UPSC / KPSC relevance
Prelims
Remember: NIA Act 2008; UAPA; counter-terrorism; 26/11. Expect a statement-based or match-the-following question on this.
Mains
Use as an example in GS-3 answers (GS Paper 3 - Internal Security). Frame: issue → provision/policy → implication → way forward.
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Can you answer this?
With reference to India's counter-terrorism framework, consider the following statements: 1. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was constituted under a law enacted after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. 2. A 2019 amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 allows the central government to designate an individual, and not just an organisation, as a terrorist. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: C — The NIA Act, 2008 was enacted after the 26/11 attacks, and the 2019 UAPA amendment extended the 'terrorist' designation to individuals as well as organisations.
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Sources
Government and official releases; PIB; The Hindu; Indian Express. Curated and verified by Topper IAS editorial.