Centre-State Relations in Internal Security
Constitutional Framework
Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, "Public order" and "Police" are State subjects (List II), making the state government primarily responsible for internal security. However, the Centre holds overriding powers under Entry 2A of List I (deployment of armed forces in aid of civil power) and through Article 355, which obliges the Centre to protect every state against internal disturbance. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), operative in Manipur's hill districts, provides legal cover for armed force operations in "disturbed areas" and is a frequently debated aspect of the security response. The MHA coordinates central interventions through deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and through bodies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for terror-related prosecutions.
- Article 355 of the Constitution requires the Centre to protect states against internal disturbance — the constitutional basis for Central intervention in Manipur.
- AFSPA gives security forces powers of arrest, search, and use of force without warrant in notified disturbed areas.
- CAPFs including CRPF, BSF, and Assam Rifles have been deployed in large numbers in Manipur since May 2023.
- The MHA has the power to coordinate peace talks and designate groups as insurgent organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
● Tracked since February 06, 2026 · last seen April 18, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes