What happened
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in specified areas of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months from 1 October 2026, unless withdrawn earlier. Gazette notifications followed a review of the law-and-order situation.
Background
AFSPA empowers the Centre or a Governor to declare an area "disturbed" and gives security forces special powers of search, arrest and use of force. Successive governments have periodically reviewed and narrowed or extended the Act in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir.
Why it matters for exams
AFSPA, disturbed-area notifications and Northeast security are core Polity / Internal Security topics for UPSC and state PSCs.
Key facts for exams
- Act: Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958
- Extension: six months from 1 October 2026
- States: specified areas of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
- Manipur: disturbed-area tag statewide except jurisdictions of 13 police stations in five districts
- Nagaland (reported): includes Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Meluri among districts listed in media summaries of the notification
- Nodal ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs
Practice MCQs
AFSPA was originally enacted in which year?
(A) 1947
(B) 1958
(C) 1962
(D) 1990Answer: (B) – The Act is of 1958.
Which Union ministry issues AFSPA disturbed-area extensions for the Northeast?
(A) Ministry of Defence
(B) Ministry of Home Affairs
(C) Ministry of Law and Justice
(D) NITI AayogAnswer: (B) – MHA issues the notifications.
The September 2026 AFSPA extension for the three Northeast states runs for how long from 1 October 2026?
(A) Three months
(B) Six months
(C) One year
(D) Two yearsAnswer: (B) – Six months, unless withdrawn earlier.
Source: The Indian Express / The Hindu / TOI reports on MHA Gazette notifications, 26 September 2026.
Official Notification
Read the complete official document for detailed information and guidelines directly from the source.
View Official Document