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Internal Security One-Liners

Rapid-fire one-liners on India's internal security architecture, key laws, intelligence and investigation agencies, insurgencies and human-rights safeguards, for CAPF Paper I and the interview

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At a glance
SubjectInternal Security
RevisionInternal SecurityLawsAgenciesHuman RightsCAPFPaper 1Interview

One screen per section. Cover the right column and test yourself. This is the CAPF-distinctive sheet that the generic exam does not test. The architecture, laws and agencies below are durable; for the latest LWE-affected district count, force strengths and amendment status, verify the latest MHA Annual Report. The full treatment is in internal security architecture of india.

The security architecture

Item Fact
Nodal ministry for internal security Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
Police and public order A State subject under the Seventh Schedule (State List entries 1 and 2)
Defence and armed forces A Union subject (Union List)
National Security Council Apex advisory body on security; National Security Adviser heads the secretariat
Higher defence command Chiefs of Staff Committee; Chief of Defence Staff (post created 2019)
Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) Intelligence-sharing hub under the Intelligence Bureau

Intelligence and investigation agencies

Agency Role
Intelligence Bureau (IB) Internal intelligence; oldest, under MHA
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) External intelligence; under the Cabinet Secretariat
National Investigation Agency (NIA) Investigates terror offences; set up under the NIA Act, 2008 (after 26/11)
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Premier investigating agency; derives powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946
Enforcement Directorate (ED) Economic offences, money laundering (PMLA)
National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) Networked database for counter-terror intelligence
NCB Narcotics Control Bureau; drug law enforcement

Key security laws

Law Purpose
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) Bans unlawful associations and terror activity; principal anti-terror law
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) Special powers to armed forces in "disturbed areas"
National Security Act, 1980 (NSA) Preventive detention
Arms Act, 1959 Regulation of firearms
Disaster Management Act, 2005 Framework for disaster response; basis of the NDMA and NDRF
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) Tackles money laundering

Insurgencies and theatres

Theatre Note
Left-Wing Extremism (Naxalism) The "red corridor"; affected districts have steadily declined (verify the latest)
Jammu and Kashmir Cross-border terrorism; Article 370 reorganised in 2019
Northeast insurgency Multiple ethnic and separatist movements; many groups under ceasefire or accords
Coastal and maritime security Strengthened after 26/11; Sagar Prahari Bal, coastal radar chain

Human-rights safeguards (the CAPF lens)

Safeguard Basis
Right to life and personal liberty Article 21
Protection against arbitrary arrest Article 22 (grounds of arrest, legal counsel, production before a magistrate within 24 hours)
National Human Rights Commission Statutory body under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
D K Basu guidelines Supreme Court directions on arrest and custodial conduct
International humanitarian law Geneva Conventions; India is a party
Minimum and proportionate force Standard for crowd control and operations

Key dates and incidents to recognise

Event Year
Mumbai attacks (26/11) 2008; led to the NIA and NSG regional hubs
Parliament attack 2001
NIA established 2008
Article 370 reorganisation of J&K 2019
Disaster Management Act and NDMA 2005

Quick recall: who does what

Question Answer
Which agency probes terror cases? NIA
Which is external intelligence? RAW
Which is internal intelligence? IB
Which Act gives special powers in disturbed areas? AFSPA, 1958
Which body protects human rights statutorily? NHRC
Under which Schedule is police a State subject? Seventh Schedule (State List)

Cross-references

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