NEWS: AFSPA extended for 6 months from October 1, 2026 in parts of Manipur, Nagaland + Arunachal Pradesh.

BASIC FEATURES

• Enacted in 1958 → deals with insurgency + serious internal security threats.
• Applies to “disturbed areas”.
• Section 3 → declaration of disturbed area.

SPECIAL POWERS

• Use of force → including force causing death, under specified conditions.
• Arrest → without warrant, under prescribed conditions.
• Search → premises without warrant, under specified conditions.
• Legal protection → prior Central Government sanction required for prosecution for covered acts.

DISTURBED AREA

• Declared by Central Government or State Government, as applicable.
• Notification may be issued by Governor / Administrator of Union Territory / Central Government.

PRESENT APPLICATION

• Manipur → most areas, with specified exclusions.
• Nagaland → parts affected by insurgency + unresolved Naga political issue.
• Arunachal Pradesh → Tirap, Changlang, Longding + specified areas of Namsai.
• Tripura → withdrawn in 2015.
• Meghalaya → revoked in 2018.
• Jammu and Kashmir → separate Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1990.

HISTORY

• 1958 → Naga Hills uprising → later extended to other insurgency-affected areas.

KEY CONCERNS

• National Security ↔ Human Rights
• Security powers ↔ Accountability
• Central authority ↔ Federalism