SSC
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was first enacted in:
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Answer: Option C — 1967
Detailed Solution
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was first enacted by Parliament in 1967 to prevent unlawful activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.
Background:
- After the war with China and growing secessionist demands in some regions, the National Integration Council recommended measures to protect the unity and integrity of India.
- The 16th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1963 allowed reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly and association in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India.
- The UAPA was passed on this basis.
Original purpose:
To declare associations that support secession or question India's territorial integrity as "unlawful associations" and to punish their members.
Major amendments:
- 2004: After the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), the UAPA was amended to include provisions on terrorist acts and terrorist organisations.
- 2008: After the Mumbai attacks, it was amended again to strengthen anti-terror provisions, including longer detention periods.
- 2012: It was amended to cover threats to economic security.
- Later amendment: It allowed the government to designate individuals, not just organisations, as terrorists, and allowed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to seize property.
Key features:
- The government can declare an organisation unlawful or terrorist and ban it.
- Police can detain a person for up to 180 days without filing a charge-sheet, with court approval, compared to the normal 90 days.
- Getting bail under the UAPA is very difficult, because the court must be satisfied that the accusations are not prima facie true.
Criticism:
- Civil liberties groups say that the Act is sometimes misused against journalists, activists and students.
- The conviction rate under the Act has been low compared to the number of arrests.
Support:
The government says the law is necessary to deal with terrorism and threats to national security.
Related bodies:
The National Investigation Agency investigates many cases under the UAPA.
Why not the other options?
- ✗1958 is the year of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
- ✗1971 and 1985 do not match.
Quick tip
Remember: UAPA = first enacted in 1967; major anti-terror amendments in 2004 and 2008.
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Miscellaneous GK — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Miscellaneous GK, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic collects general knowledge questions that do not fit neatly into a single category, such as national symbols, famous nicknames of places, important events, entertainment, and facts that cut across history, geography and culture. Because these questions come from many areas, the best preparation is broad revision and regular practice. Read each explanation carefully, since it often includes a related fact that is tested in a different form. Keep a notebook of facts you get wrong and revise it before the exam. Practise the miscellaneous GK questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.