Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
India's Counter-Terrorism Framework
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, originally passed in 1967 and substantially amended in 2004, 2008, and 2019, is India's primary legislative instrument for dealing with terrorist organisations and their members. It enables designation of organisations as "terrorist organisations," allows longer detention periods, and provides for seizure of proceeds of terrorism.
- Section 13 UAPA (punishment for unlawful activities): up to 7 years imprisonment for being a member of or supporting an unlawful organisation.
- The 2019 amendment enabled the designation of individuals (not just organisations) as terrorists, allowing freezing of assets and travel bans on named persons.
- Under UAPA, bail is exceptionally difficult: the court must be satisfied that the allegations are prima facie untrue — a higher burden than standard bail proceedings.
- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has primary jurisdiction for UAPA cases involving transnational networks; the NIA has a dedicated J&K division.
- IPC Section 121 (waging war against the Government of India) carries the death penalty or life imprisonment — making FIR No. 05/1996 one of the gravest possible charges.
● Tracked since February 28, 2026 · last seen May 05, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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