THE ARCHITECTURE OF ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS IN INDIA- POWER, PROTECTION, AND CONTROVERSY
AUTHOR – MADHUMITHA. E, B.A, LL.B., STUDENT AT ERODE COLLEGE OF LAW
BEST CITATION – MADHUMITHA. E, THE ARCHITECTURE OF ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS IN INDIA- POWER, PROTECTION, AND CONTROVERSY, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (8) OF 2026, PG. 553-565, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/IJLRV6I858
Anti-terrorism laws in India are a set of legal provisions designed to prevent, combat, and prosecute terrorist activities and organisations within the country. These laws aim to provide the government with the necessary tools to protect citizens and maintain law and order in the face of terrorist threats. The main anti-terrorism law in India is the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which was first enacted in 1967 and has since undergone several amendments to make it more stringent. The UAPA provides the legal framework for the prevention of terrorism, the freezing of terrorist assets, the seizure of properties, and the prosecution of individuals involved in terrorist activities. The law has been used to prosecute several high-profile cases, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Other important anti-terrorism laws in India include the National Investigation Agency Act (NIA Act) of 2008, which created the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate and prosecute cases related to terrorism and other national security issues. The NIA Act also provides the NIA with extensive powers to conduct investigations and make arrests. While these laws have been effective in some cases, they have also been criticised for being misused to target individuals and organisations that are critical of the government. There have been concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the implementation of these laws, as well as the potential for human rights violations.