Internal Security & Disaster Management
Terrorism and Insurgency
GS Paper III
Terrorism and Insurgency — Quick Revision
One-page UPSC revision of terrorism and insurgency: UAPA, NIA Act, AFSPA, North-East accords, external actors and UN counter-terror mechanisms.
SyllabusGS III · Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
A one-page sheet on counter-terror law and insurgency. Laws, sections and years are the Prelims targets; the “external actors” grid is the Mains skeleton.
Counter-Terror Laws
| Law | Year(s) | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| TADA | 1985–1995 | Confessions to police admissible; lapsed in 1995 |
| POTA | 2002–2004 | Passed at a joint sitting (2002); repealed 2004 |
| UAPA | 1967 | Main anti-terror law since 2004 amendment |
| NIA Act | 2008 | Central counter-terror investigation agency; Special Courts |
| AFSPA | 1958 | Special powers in “disturbed areas” (J&K has a separate 1990 Act) |
UAPA Essentials
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Section 3 | Declaration of unlawful association; confirmed by tribunal headed by a High Court judge |
| Section 15 | Definition of “terrorist act” (includes threats to economic security since 2012) |
| First Schedule | Terrorist organisations |
| Fourth Schedule | Individual terrorists (since 2019) |
| Section 43D(5) | Bail barred if accusation appears prima facie true |
| Investigation period | 90 days, extendable to 180 days |
NIA Act — 2019 Amendment
- Jurisdiction over scheduled offences committed outside India against Indian citizens or interests.
- New scheduled offences: human trafficking, counterfeit currency, prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism, Explosive Substances Act offences.
- Centre can transfer cases to NIA without State consent (unlike the CBI).
AFSPA at a Glance
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| 3 | Disturbed area declared by Governor / Administrator / Central Government |
| 4 | Fire after warning, arrest and search without warrant |
| 6 | Prosecution only with Central Government’s prior sanction |
| Case / body | Position |
|---|---|
| Naga People’s Movement (1997) | Upheld; periodic review; do’s and don’ts |
| Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005) | Repeal; move provisions to UAPA |
| 2nd ARC 5th Report (2007) | Repeal; amend UAPA |
| EEVFAM (2016) | No absolute immunity for excessive force |
North-East Accords
| Accord | Year |
|---|---|
| Shillong Accord (Naga) | 1975 |
| Assam Accord | 1985 |
| Mizo Accord | 1986 |
| NSCN (IM) Framework Agreement | 2015 |
| Bru–Reang agreement; Bodo Accord | 2020 |
| Karbi Anglong Agreement | 2021 |
| ULFA (pro-talks) agreement | 2023 |
High-yield facts
- UAPA 2019: individuals as terrorists; Inspector-rank NIA investigators; DG NIA approves property seizure.
- CCIT proposed by India at the UN in 1996; unadopted for want of an agreed definition.
- UNSC 1267 (1999) — sanctions list; UNSC 1373 (2001) — Counter-Terrorism Committee.
- Mizo Accord (1986) is the classic successful settlement; Mizoram became a State in 1987.
External Actors — Mains Grid
| Actor | Tools | Response |
|---|---|---|
| State sponsors | Proxy war, safe havens, propaganda | Diplomacy, FATF, deterrence, border management |
| Terror groups | Attacks, online recruitment | UAPA, NIA, intelligence, de-radicalisation |
| Criminal networks | Drugs, arms, FICN, hawala | NCB, DRI, PMLA, FIU-IND |
Traps
- UAPA is from 1967, not 2008.
- The Centre can also declare an area disturbed under AFSPA.
- State consent is needed for the CBI, not the NIA.
Related Topics
- Terrorism, Insurgency and India’s Legal Response
- Terrorism and Insurgency — practice questions
- Security Forces and Agencies
- Money Laundering and Organised Crime
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