---
title: "AFSPA: Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958"
description: "The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 allows Indian soldiers to use lethal force in \"disturbed areas,\" impacting human rights and security."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/armed-forces-special-powers-act"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 is an Indian statute granting armed forces extraordinary powers, including lethal force, in areas declared "disturbed" by the government.
- Which authority declares an area 'disturbed' under AFSPA?
- Why is Section 6 of AFSPA so controversial?
- How does AFSPA differ from the National Security Act, 1980?
- Has AFSPA ever been withdrawn from any territory?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 is an Indian statute granting armed forces extraordinary powers, including lethal force, in areas declared "disturbed" by the government.

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## Timeline

1. 11 September 1958

   The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is an Act of the Indian Parliament enacted on , originally to contain the Naga insurgency in the then-com…

2. 15 August 1942

   Its lineage traces to the colonial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Ordinance of , promulgated by the Viceroy to suppress the Quit India Movement.

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In December 2021, an Indian Army unit operating under AFSPA killed fourteen civilians at Oting in Mon district, Nagaland, intensifying state assembly demands for the Act's repeal.

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