AFSPA Extended by Six Months in Northeast India; Special Law to Remain in Force in Parts of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh
The Central Government has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for six months—from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027—in specific areas of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. While 13 police station areas across five districts in Manipur have been excluded from the ambit of AFSPA, the Act remains in force in select areas of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Under Section 3 of AFSPA, an area can be declared a 'disturbed area,' while Section 4 grants special powers to the armed forces. This legislation is significant for the UPSC examination in the context of internal security, insurgency, federalism, human rights, and peace and security in the Northeast.
The Central Government has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), in certain areas of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh for the next six months. This extension is effective from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027; however, it may be withdrawn earlier if the situation improves. The Central Government designates the concerned areas as 'disturbed areas' under AFSPA.
AFSPA Status in Manipur:
AFSPA has been extended across most of Manipur; however, 13 police station areas spanning five districts have been excluded from its purview. This arrangement demonstrates that AFSPA can be implemented in an area-specific manner based on the security situation, rather than being applied uniformly across the entire state. Previous notifications by the Ministry of Home Affairs also reflect the practice of excluding specific areas of Manipur from the ambit of AFSPA.
Situation in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh:
In Nagaland, AFSPA will remain in force across 9 districts and in 21 police station areas spanning five other districts. In Arunachal Pradesh, it is primarily applicable in the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, as well as in certain police station areas of the Namsai district bordering Assam. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the geographical scope of AFSPA in the Northeast has been reduced in several areas over recent years.
Section 3 of AFSPA and ‘Disturbed Areas’:
Under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958, the State Governor, the Administrator of a Union Territory, or the Central Government can declare an area a ‘disturbed area’ if, in their opinion, the situation necessitates the use of armed forces to aid the civil administration. Therefore, the provision regarding the declaration of a ‘disturbed area’ under Section 3 is a crucial point for UPSC aspirants.
Special Powers Conferred on Armed Forces:
Under Section 4 of the AFSPA, authorized armed forces personnel are granted powers—subject to specific conditions and procedures laid down in the Act—to use force, conduct arrests and searches without a warrant (where necessary), and take action against weapons or fortified positions used by armed groups.
Broad Significance for UPSC:
The issue of AFSPA is relevant to both GS Paper-II (Governance, Federalism, and Fundamental Rights) and GS Paper-III (Internal Security). Key aspects to study include the balance between national security and civil administration, insurgency and peace processes in the Northeast, Centre-State relations, human rights concerns, and the government's policy of gradually reducing the areas under AFSPA. The Act has previously been completely withdrawn from Tripura and Meghalaya, and its scope has been reduced in several areas across other states as well.
