Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by the Parliament in August 2019. It amends the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The latest Act empowers the central government to designate an individual a “terrorist” if they are found committing, preparing for, promoting, or involved in an act of terror.
The 1967 UAPA law required an investigating officer to take prior permission of the Director General of Police of a state for conducting raids, and seizing properties that are suspected to be linked to terrorist activities.
The amendment act removes this requirement if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The investigating officer only requires sanction from the Director General of NIA.
The 1967 law specifies that only officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police of the NIA shall have the power to investigate offences under the UAPA law. The new act allows NIA officers of Inspector rank to carry out investigations.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has designated 18 individuals, all Pakistan based, as “terrorists” under the UAPA Act, 2019.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a statutory body constituted under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008.
It is a central agency to investigate and prosecute offences:
- affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, security of State, friendly relations with foreign States.
- against atomic and nuclear facilities.
- smuggling in High-Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency.
It implements international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations.
It acts as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.

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