The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) has been extended for another six months from October 1, 2026, in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The law gives the armed forces special powers in areas declared disturbed because of insurgency or serious internal security problems.

Why in the News?

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended AFSPA in parts of the three northeastern States.

  • In Manipur, the entire State remains a disturbed area except the jurisdictions of 13 police stations in five Valley districts.

  • In Nagaland, AFSPA continues in nine districts and areas under 21 police stations in five other districts.

  • In Arunachal Pradesh, it continues in Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, and in specified areas of Namsai district.

  • The extension comes against the background of the ethnic conflict in Manipur that began on May 3, 2023.

  • The latest order highlights the continuing use of AFSPA in areas facing insurgency and internal security challenges.

What is AFSPA?

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 was enacted to give special powers to the armed forces operating in areas affected by insurgency or serious internal security problems.

Once an area is declared “disturbed” under Section 3, armed forces receive powers beyond those normally available to the police. These include:

  • Use of force, including lethal force, under the conditions specified in the Act.

  • Arrest without a warrant.

  • Search of premises without a warrant.

  • Taking action against persons acting in contravention of specified prohibitory orders.

  • Legal protection for personnel acting under the Act.

Legal Protection under AFSPA

AFSPA also provides protection to personnel for actions taken under the Act. This protection is intended to allow security personnel to carry out operations without facing immediate legal proceedings for every action taken during such operations.

  • Prosecution, suit, or other legal proceedings for acts done or purportedly done under AFSPA require prior sanction of the Central Government.

  • This provision has been one of the most controversial aspects of the law.

  • Supporters of the provision argue that it protects personnel operating in difficult security environments.

  • Critics have raised concerns about accountability and possible misuse of extraordinary powers.

Who Can Declare an Area “Disturbed”?

Under Section 3 of AFSPA, both the Central Government and State Governments can declare an area as disturbed. This means that the decision is not necessarily taken only by the Union Government.

  • State governments have historically issued disturbed-area notifications in some States.

  • In Manipur, the State government had been responsible for periodic renewal for many years.

  • The situation changed after the May 2023 ethnic violence, when the MHA began restoring AFSPA in some areas.

AFSPA in Manipur

Manipur has experienced major changes in the geographical application of AFSPA. The latest notification keeps most of the State under AFSPA but excludes 13 police station jurisdictions in five Valley districts.

Areas Exempted from AFSPA

The 13 police station areas are:

  • Imphal

  • Lamphel

  • City

  • Singjamei

  • Patsoi

  • Wangoi

  • Porompat

  • Heingang

  • Irilbung

  • Thoubal

  • Bishnupur

  • Nambol

  • Kakching

The remaining areas of Manipur continue to be covered by the disturbed-area notification.

How did AFSPA shrink in Manipur?

Before the current ethnic conflict, AFSPA had been gradually withdrawn from several parts of Manipur. The reduction was part of a wider change in the security situation in some areas of the State.

  • AFSPA was withdrawn from the Imphal municipal area in 2004.

  • A larger rollback began in 2022.

  • Between April 1, 2022, and April 1, 2023, AFSPA was withdrawn from all police station areas in the Manipur Valley.

  • The government cited an improved security situation and greater public confidence.

  • AFSPA continued in many hill areas.

The violence that began in May 2023 reversed this earlier trend.

Reimposition of AFSPA in 2024

On November 14, 2024, the MHA reimposed AFSPA in six police station jurisdictions. The decision came after the security situation in Manipur had deteriorated following the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023.

These included:

  • Sekmai

  • Lamsang

  • Lamlai

  • Jiribam

  • Moirang

  • Leimakhong

The MHA said the move was required for well-coordinated security operations and to contain insurgent activities. The notification was significant because the Centre, rather than the Manipur government, issued the order.

Did the Manipur Government Agree?

The Manipur government sought a review of the 2024 decision. This reflected a difference between the position of the State government and the decision taken by the Centre.

  • On November 15, 2024, the State Cabinet recommended that the Centre review and withdraw the notification in “public interest.”

  • The decision was communicated to the Union Home Secretary.

  • This created an unusual situation in which the Centre and State governments had different positions on the restoration of AFSPA.

  • Later, President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025.

  • It was revoked on February 4, 2026.

AFSPA in Nagaland

AFSPA continues in nine districts of Nagaland:

  • Dimapur

  • Niuland

  • Chumoukedima

  • Mon

  • Kiphire

  • Noklak

  • Phek

  • Peren

  • Meluri

It also continues in areas under 21 police stations across:

  • Kohima

  • Mokokchung

  • Longleng

  • Wokha

  • Zunheboto

The continuation of AFSPA in Nagaland has been linked to the presence and movement of armed insurgent groups and the unresolved Naga political issue.

Naga Peace Process

The continuation of AFSPA in Nagaland is also connected with the long-running Naga peace process. The peace process involves negotiations between the Centre and different Naga groups. The Centre has held negotiations with:

  • National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) – NSCN-IM

  • Naga National Political Groups – NNPGs

Uncertainty surrounding the conclusion of the peace process has been one of the factors associated with the continuation of AFSPA in parts of Nagaland and neighbouring areas.

AFSPA in Arunachal Pradesh

In Arunachal Pradesh, AFSPA has been extended in three districts and specified areas of Namsai district. The areas covered by the law are mainly in the eastern part of the State.

  • Tirap

  • Changlang

  • Longding

It also continues in areas under:

  • Namsai police station

  • Mahadevpur police station

  • Chowkham police station

These areas are located in or near regions bordering Assam. The application of AFSPA in Arunachal Pradesh has largely been linked to insurgent movement and security concerns in the eastern districts and adjoining areas.

Has AFSPA Been Reduced in the Northeast?

Yes. The geographical reach of AFSPA has reduced significantly in several parts of the Northeast. The reduction has taken place at different times and has depended on the security situation in individual States.

Assam

AFSPA has been substantially reduced in Assam compared with earlier years. The law was previously applicable to a much larger part of the State.

  • The law was earlier applicable across the State.

  • The area under AFSPA was progressively reduced as security conditions improved.

  • It is currently restricted to Tinsukia, Charaideo and Sivasagar districts.

  • The State has cited the continued presence of ULFA (Independent) and the location of these districts near the Assam-Nagaland and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh borders as reasons for retaining the law.

Tripura

AFSPA was completely removed from Tripura in 2015. The decision followed an improvement in the security situation in the State.

  • AFSPA was revoked from the whole of Tripura in 2015.

  • The decision followed an improvement in the security situation.

Meghalaya

The reduction of AFSPA in several northeastern areas has been associated with a decline in insurgency-related violence and the surrender or arrest of militants.

  • AFSPA was in force in Meghalaya for around 27 years.

  • It was revoked by the Ministry on April 1, 2018.

  • Before its removal, it applied to a 20-km area along the Assam border.

Why Does the Latest Manipur Notification Matter?

The latest notification shows a reversal of the earlier trend in Manipur. Before the 2023 conflict:

  • AFSPA coverage – Gradual reduction

After the 2023 ethnic violence:

  • Security situation deteriorated - AFSPA was restored in some areas - Most of Manipur remains covered.

The exemption of 13 Valley police station areas shows that the law is still being applied selectively rather than uniformly across every part of the State.

AFSPA and Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir has a separate law. The Jammu and Kashmir Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1990 applies to the region. Therefore, the AFSPA discussed in the latest notification for the Northeast is based on the 1958 Act, while Jammu and Kashmir has its own 1990 legislation.

Major Issues

The continued use of AFSPA involves several important issues. The debate mainly concerns the balance between security requirements and legal accountability.

  • Internal security: Provides additional powers to security forces in areas affected by insurgency.

  • Accountability: Legal protection under the Act has generated debates over accountability.

  • Human rights: Extraordinary powers have raised concerns regarding their potential misuse.

  • Federal relations: The power of both the Centre and States to declare areas disturbed can create differences between governments.

  • Peace process: In Nagaland, the continuation of AFSPA is connected with the wider Naga political issue.

  • Security assessment: Periodic review is important because security conditions can change over time.

Conclusion

The extension of AFSPA in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh reflects continuing security concerns in parts of the Northeast. At the same time, the gradual withdrawal of the law from several areas of the region shows that its geographical application has changed with security conditions. Manipur remains the major exception to the earlier trend of reduction, as the 2023 ethnic conflict led to the restoration of AFSPA in areas where it had previously been withdrawn.