Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)

Subject: Polity

Context:

Government has declared nine individuals linked to separatist Khalistani organisations as designated terrorists under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Concept:

• UAPA was passed in 1967. It aims at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India.
• Unlawful activity refers to any action taken by an individual or association intended to disrupt the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India.
• The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so.
• It has death penalty and life imprisonment as highest punishments.
• Central government had amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in August 2019 to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist.
• Prior to this amendment, only organisations could be designated as terrorist organisations.