What is the NIA?

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is functioning as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in the country.  
• It is mandated to investigate all the offences: 
  • affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, friendly relations with foreign states, and 
  • the offences under the statutory laws enacted to implement international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations.
• These include terror acts and their possible links with crimes like smuggling of arms, drugs and fake Indian currency and infiltration from across the borders. 
• The agency has the power to search, seize, arrest and prosecute those involved in such offences.
• Headquartered in Delhi, the NIA has its branches in several parts of the country.

When did the NIA come into being?

• In the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in November 2008, which shocked the entire world, the central government decided to establish the NIA.
• The agency came into existence on December 31, 2008 under the NIA Act, 2008, and started its functioning in 2009.
• NIA was created mainly to specialize in investigations into incidents of terrorist attacks and bomb blasts in various parts of the country. Majority of such incidents were found to have complex inter-state and international linkages while at the same time being linked to drug and arms smuggling among other activities.
• The NIA Act was amended in the year 2019 to enlarge the mandate of the NIA by inclusion of offences related to human trafficking, manufacture/sale of prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism and offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and expanded its jurisdiction beyond India. 

How wide is the NIA’s jurisdiction?

• The law under which the agency operates extends to: 
  • whole of India and also applies to Indian citizens outside the country; 
  • persons in the service of the government wherever they are posted; 
  • persons on ships and aircraft registered in India wherever they may be;
  • persons who commit a scheduled offence beyond India against the Indian citizen or affecting the interest of India.

Why in News?

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested five individuals in a major operation against an organized human trafficking and cyber fraud syndicate.

https://www.newsonair.gov.in/nia-arrests-5-individuals-in-a-major-operation-against-organized-human-trafficking-cyber-fraud-syndicate/