Defence & Security: central Acts

Acts on the armed forces, defence, policing and national security.

Contracts & Property 1

• Army and Air Force (Disposal of Private Property) Act, 1950Act 40 of 1950 · 1950 · DefenceAn Act to provide for the disposal of the private property of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950 or the Air Force Act, 1950 , who die or desert or are ascertained to be of unsound mind or while on active service are…

Regulation & Licensing 3

• Arms Act, 1959Act 54 of 1959 · 1959 · Home AffairsAn Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to arms and ammunition.
• Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005Act 29 of 2005 · 2005 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the regulation of private security agencies and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Seaward Artillery Practice Act, 1949Act 8 of 1949 · 1949 · DefenceAn Act to provide facilities for carrying out seaward artillery practice.

Courts & Dispute Resolution 2

• Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007Act 55 of 2007 · 2007 · DefenceAn Act to provide for the adjudication or trial by Armed Forces Tribunal of disputes and complaints with respect to commission, appointments, enrolment and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act,…
• Naval and Aircraft Prize Act, 1971Act 59 of 1971 · 1971 · DefenceAn Act to provide for the establishment and procedure of Prize Courts and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Criminal Law 7

• Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990Act 21 of 1990 · 1990 · Home AffairsAn Act to enable certain special powers to be conferred upon members of the armed forces in the disturbed areas in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Armed Forces (Punjab and Chandigarh) Special Powers Act, 1983Act 34 of 1983 · 1983 · Home AffairsAn Act to enable certain special powers to be conferred upon members of the armed forces in the disturbed areas in the State of Punjab and the Union territory of Chandigarh.
• Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958Act 28 of 1958 · 1958 · Home AffairsAn Act to enable certain special powers to be conferred upon members of the armed forces in disturbed areas in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
• Prevention of Terrorism (Repeal) Act, 2004Act 26 of 2004 · 2004 · Home AffairsAn Act to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002.
• SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act, 1993Act 36 of 1993 · 1993 · External AffairsAn Act to give effect to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967Act 37 of 1967 · 1967 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations, and for dealing with terrorist activities, and for matters connected therewith.
• Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005Act 21 of 2005 · 2005 · External AffairsAn Act to prohibit unlawful activities, in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Constitution & Governance 2

• Armed Forces (Emergency Duties) Act, 1947Act 15 of 1947 · 1947 · DefenceAn Act to enable duties in connection with vital services to be imposed in an emergency on an Armed Forces.
• Cantonments Act, 2006Act 41 of 2006 · 2006 · DefenceAn Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the administration of cantonments with a view to impart greater democratisation, improvement of their financial base to make provisions for developmental activities and for…

Statutory Bodies & Institutions 21

• Air Force Act, 1950Act 45 of 1950 · 1950 · DefenceAn Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the government of the Air Force.
• Army Act, 1950Act 46 of 1950 · 1950 · DefenceAn Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Government of the regular Army.
• Assam Rifles Act, 2006Act 47 of 2006 · 2006 · Home AffairsAn Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the governance of the Assam Rifles, an Armed Force of the Union for ensuring the security of the borders of India, to carry out Counter Insurgency Operations in the specified…
• Border Security Force Act, 1968Act 47 of 1968 · 1968 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an Armed Force of the Union for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith.
• Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026Act 09 of 2026 · 2026 · Home AffairsAn Act to regulate the general rules governing the recruitment and conditions of service of Group A General Duty Officers and other officers in the Central Armed Police Forces and other rules regarding these forces, and for…
• Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968Act 50 of 1968 · 1968 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for the better protection and security of industrial undertakings owned by the Central Government, certain other industrial undertakings,…
• Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949Act 66 of 1949 · 1949 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed Central Reserve Police Force.
• Civil Defence Act, 1968Act 27 of 1968 · 1968 · Home AffairsAn Act to make provision for civil defence and for matters connected therewith.
• Coast Guard Act, 1978Act 30 of 1978 · 1978 · DefenceAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an Armed Force of the Union for ensuring the security of the maritime zones of India with a view to the protection of maritime and other national interests in such zones…
• Delhi Police Act, 1978Act 34 of 1978 · 1978 · Home AffairsAn Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to the regulation of the police in the Union territory of Delhi.
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992Act 35 of 1992 · 1992 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith.
• Lok Sahayak Sena Act, 1956Act 53 of 1956 · 1956 · DefenceAn Act to provide for the constitution of Lok Sahayak Sena for imparting military training to citizens of India.
• National Cadet Corps Act, 1948Act 31 of 1948 · 1948 · DefenceAn Act to provide for the constitution of a National Cadet Corps.
• National Security Guard Act, 1986Act 47 of 1986 · 1986 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for combating terrorist activities with a view to protecting States against internal disturbances and for matters connected therewith.
• Navy Act, 1957Act 62 of 1957 · 1957 · DefenceAn Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Government of the Indian Navy.
• Police Act, 1949Act 64 of 1949 · 1949 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the constitution of a general police-district embracing two or more Union territories and for the establishment of a police force therefor.
• Police-Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966Act 33 of 1966 · 1966 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the restriction of certain rights conferred by Part III of the Constitution in their application to the members of the Forces charged with the maintenance of public order so as to ensure the proper…
• Reserve and Auxiliary Air Forces Act, 1952Act 62 of 1952 · 1952 · DefenceAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of certain Air Force Reserve and also an Auxiliary Air Force and for matters connected therewith.
• Sashastra Seema Bal Act, 2007Act 53 of 2007 · 2007 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith.
• Special Protection Group Act, 1988Act 34 of 1988 · 1988 · Home AffairsAn Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and the former Prime Ministers of India and members of their immediate families…
• Territorial Army Act, 1948Act 56 of 1948 · 1948 · DefenceAn Act to provide for the constitution of a Territorial Army.