India’s Counter-Terror Strategy

1. India’s counter-terrorism policy has shifted from a reactive response to a proactive prevention-based approach, with a zero-tolerance position against terrorism.

2. The counter-terrorism framework is built around stronger laws, better intelligence-sharing, modern police systems, action against terror financing, and cross-border deterrence.

3. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019 allowed the Central Government to designate individuals, not only organisations, as terrorists.

4. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was strengthened through the 2019 amendment, giving it wider power to investigate terror-related offences outside India affecting Indian interests.

5. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 and came into force on 1 July 2024, with specific provisions on terrorism and organised crime.

6. The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 targeted illegal arms networks by increasing punishment for illegal possession, manufacturing, sale, transfer, and trafficking of prohibited arms.

7. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been used to trace, freeze, and confiscate terror-linked assets, including hawala money, cryptocurrency funding, and gangster-linked extortion money.

8. The National Investigation Agency’s budget increased from ₹91.32 crore in 2014–15 to ₹394.66 crore in 2024–25, showing major capacity expansion.

9. The National Investigation Agency has 47 Special Courts in States and 6 Special Courts in Union Territories to speed up trial of terror-related cases.

10. The Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), functioning under the Intelligence Bureau (IB), connects 28 central and state agencies for real-time intelligence sharing.

11. The Cyber Multi-Agency Centre (CyMAC) was established on 22 January 2025 under the MAC framework to deal with cyber threats, cyber espionage, and misuse of emerging technologies.

12. The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) links databases related to immigration, banking, telecom, and travel records to help security agencies detect suspicious activity and terror networks.

13. The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) 2.0 was launched in 2024 and connects 17,798 police stations across India through an Artificial Intelligence-enabled system.

14. India’s cross-border counter-terror doctrine included the 2016 Surgical Strikes, the 2019 Balakot Air Strike, and Operation Sindoor in 2025 as calibrated responses to terrorist attacks.

15. Security indicators in Jammu and Kashmir improved, with terrorist incidents declining from 7,217 during 2004–2014 to 2,242 during 2014–2024, and organised stone-pelting remaining near-zero since 2022.

Must Know Terms :

1. Zero-Tolerance Policy: India’s counter-terrorism approach is based on zero tolerance towards terrorism. It focuses on preventing terror attacks, dismantling terror networks, stopping terror financing, controlling infiltration, and acting against support structures.

 

2. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA): The UAPA was strengthened through the 2019 amendment. It allowed the Central Government to designate individuals as terrorists and gave more investigative powers to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

 

3. National Investigation Agency (NIA): NIA is India’s main counter-terror investigation agency. Its powers were expanded in 2019 to investigate terror-related offences committed outside India against Indian interests. Its budget increased from ₹91.32 crore in 2014–15 to ₹394.66 crore in 2024–25.

 

4. Multi-Agency Centre (MAC): MAC works under the Intelligence Bureau (IB). It is India’s main real-time intelligence-sharing platform and connects 28 central and state agencies for better coordination against terrorism.

 

5. National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID): NATGRID is a secure intelligence-sharing platform that links databases related to immigration, banking, telecom, and travel records. It helps security agencies detect suspicious activity, terror networks, and terror-financing trails.

 

6. Cross-Border Counter-Terror Operations: India’s counter-terror doctrine includes calibrated action against cross-border terrorism. Major examples include the 2016 Surgical Strikes, the 2019 Balakot Air Strike, and Operation Sindoor in 2025.

 

MCQ :

1. With reference to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019, consider the following statements:

1. It empowers the Central Government to designate individuals as terrorists.
2. It authorises National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers of Inspector rank and above to investigate terrorism cases.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

2. With reference to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, consider the following statements:

1. It replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
2. It came into force on 1 July 2024.
3. It contains provisions relating to terrorism and organised crime.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

3. Which one of the following best describes the primary objective of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in counter-terrorism efforts?

A. To regulate digital payments only
B. To identify, freeze, and confiscate terror-linked assets and financial networks
C. To monitor foreign tourists entering India
D. To establish special anti-terror courts

4. With reference to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), consider the following statements:

1. Its jurisdiction was expanded in 2019 to investigate certain offences committed outside India affecting Indian interests.
2. Its budget increased from ₹91.32 crore in 2014–15 to ₹394.66 crore in 2024–25.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

5. Which of the following is the main function of the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC)?

A. Conducting military operations along international borders
B. Real-time intelligence sharing among multiple security agencies
C. Regulating cyber laws in India
D. Supervising state police recruitment

6. With reference to the Cyber Multi-Agency Centre (CyMAC), consider the following statements:

1. It was established on 22 January 2025.
2. It functions under the Multi-Agency Centre framework.
3. It focuses on cyber threats and misuse of emerging technologies.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

7. The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) is primarily intended to:

A. Coordinate elections across states
B. Integrate multiple databases to support intelligence-led investigations
C. Regulate internet service providers
D. Maintain census records

8. The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) 2.0, launched in 2024, connects approximately:

A. 10,000 police stations
B. 15,500 police stations
C. 17,798 police stations
D. 20,500 police stations

9. Which one of the following correctly matches the event with its year?

A. Surgical Strikes – 2019
B. Balakot Air Strike – 2016
C. Operation Sindoor – 2025
D. Pulwama Attack – 2020

10. Consider the following operations:

1. Surgical Strikes
2. Balakot Air Strike
3. Operation Sindoor

Which of the above are associated with India’s cross-border counter-terror doctrine?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

11. With reference to the Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019, consider the following statements:

1. It strengthened penalties for illegal arms trafficking.
2. It targeted illegal manufacture and transfer of prohibited arms.
3. It aimed to disrupt supply chains supporting terrorism and organised crime.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

12. Which one of the following correctly describes the trend in terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir mentioned in the data?

A. Increased from 2,242 to 7,217 over two decades
B. Declined from 7,217 during 2004–2014 to 2,242 during 2014–2024
C. Remained unchanged over both periods
D. Fell below 500 during 2014–2024

13. Consider the following pairs:

Institution | Key Role

1. MAC | Real-time intelligence sharing
2. NATGRID | Integration of multiple government databases
3. CyMAC | Coordination against cyber threats

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

14. Which of the following statements best reflects India’s recent counter-terror strategy?

A. Exclusive reliance on diplomatic negotiations
B. Focus only on strengthening border fencing
C. Integration of legal reforms, intelligence sharing, technology, and preventive operations
D. Limiting counter-terror efforts to state police agencies

15. With reference to India’s counter-terrorism architecture, consider the following statements:

1. The policy emphasises proactive prevention rather than only responding after attacks.
2. Intelligence integration has been strengthened through institutional mechanisms such as MAC and NATGRID.
3. Modern legal reforms have expanded the powers of investigative agencies to tackle evolving security threats.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3