AFSPA Extended Till March 2027: Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh Explained

The Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, in designated “disturbed areas” of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months, effective from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.

The latest extension largely retains AFSPA’s existing coverage in the three northeastern states.

Read Also: UPSC Daily Current Affairs 2026

AFSPA Extension 2026: Key Highlights

1. Manipur

• AFSPA has been extended across Manipur, except areas under the jurisdiction of 13 police stations.
• The excluded areas include specified police-station jurisdictions in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching districts.
• The extension comes amid continuing internal security and law-and-order challenges in the state.

2. Nagaland

AFSPA has been extended in nine districts:

• Dimapur
• Niuland
• Chumoukedima
• Mon
• Kiphire
• Noklak
• Phek
• Peren
• Meluri

The Act also continues to apply to specified police-station areas in other districts.

3. Arunachal Pradesh

AFSPA continues in:

• Tirap
• Changlang
• Longding

It also covers areas under Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district bordering Assam.

What is AFSPA?

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 provides special powers to the armed forces in areas officially declared as “disturbed areas.”

Under Section 3, the competent authority can declare an area disturbed when conditions make the use of armed forces necessary to assist civil authorities.

Powers under AFSPA

Under Section 4, armed forces personnel have specified powers to:

• Search premises and persons under the conditions prescribed by the Act.
• Arrest without warrant in specified circumstances.
• Seize arms, ammunition and other materials.
• Use force, including potentially lethal force, subject to the statutory conditions.

Section 6 provides specified legal safeguards concerning prosecution and legal proceedings against personnel for actions taken under the Act.

Why is AFSPA Important?

AFSPA is closely linked with India’s internal security challenges, particularly insurgency and armed violence in parts of the Northeast.

Its continued application raises important governance questions involving:

• National security
• Civil liberties and fundamental rights
• Accountability of security forces
• Centre-State relations
• Restoration of normal civilian administration

Prelims Facts

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