Key Laws for Internal Security

6.1 UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act)

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 is India's primary anti-terrorism and anti-secessionism legislation. Key provisions:

• Section 15: Definition of terrorist act — violence/property damage intended to threaten India's unity, integrity, security, or economic security, or create terror in the public
• Section 16–18: Offences of committing/facilitating/conspiring terrorist acts — punishment up to life imprisonment or death (where acts cause death)
• Section 35–36: Power to designate organisations as terrorist organisations (Schedule IV)
• 2019 Amendment — Section 35(1)(a): Power to designate individuals as terrorists (First Schedule) — without trial

Key Designated Organisations under UAPA

Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, SIMI (Students' Islamic Movement of India), CPI (Maoist), ULFA (I), NSCN (K-YA), Babbar Khalsa International.

Controversies

• Bail is nearly impossible under UAPA (SC in NIA v. Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali (2019) held bail should not be granted unless the court is satisfied the accusation is prima facie not true)
• 2019 individual designation provision used against Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed (international designation) but critics say it could be misused domestically
• UAPA cases against civil society activists (Bhima Koregaon case, Hathras case) — Supreme Court scrutiny

6.2 Other Key Internal Security Laws

Law	Year	Purpose
AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act)	1958	Special powers to Army/CAPFs in disturbed areas
NSA (National Security Act)	1980	Preventive detention for security reasons — up to 12 months
MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act)	1999	Organised crime control (Maharashtra + some other states)
NIA Act	2008	Establishment and powers of NIA
IT Act 2000 (Section 66F)	2008	Cyber terrorism (added by 2008 amendment)
Disaster Management Act	2005	NDMA, NDRF establishment
Explosive Substances Act	1908	IED-related offences (NIA investigates)

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