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MHA Designates 23 Individuals as Terrorists Under UAPA Section 35; Total 80 Now

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
06 Jul 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Section 35 UAPA2019 amendment23 individuals80 total designated terrorists45 terrorist organisations23 unlawful associations
Bodies:MHANIAHome Minister
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Section 35 of UAPA, inserted by 2019 amendment, empowers MHA to designate individuals as terrorists; 23 new designations on July 4, 2026 take total to 80.

2.First individuals designated in September 2019: Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Dawood Ibrahim.

3.Process is non-judicial: proposal from intelligence agencies, MHA examination, Home Minister clearance, gazette notification. Appeal window of 45 days to MHA, then to a three-member review committee of sitting/retired High Court judges.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The MHA recently designated 23 individuals as terrorists under Section 35 of UAPA (2019 amendment). This brings the total number of designated terrorists to 80. The provision allows targeting individuals behind terror acts, not just organizations, with a non-judicial process. Know the process, first designations, and appeal mechanism for UPSC/state PSC internal security questions.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Designation DateJuly 4, 2026
Number Designated23 individuals (6 Indians, 17 Pakistanis)
Total Designated Terrorists Now80
First Designated (Sept 2019)Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Dawood Ibrahim
Terrorist Organisations under UAPA45 (First Schedule)
Unlawful Associations23 (under Section 3)
Legal ProvisionSection 35 of UAPA (inserted by 2019 amendment)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Designation Date: July 4, 2026
  • ›Number Designated: 23 individuals (6 Indians, 17 Pakistanis)
  • ›Target this Data: 23 individuals designated on July 4, 2026; total designated terrorists now 80.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the designated authority.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Section 35 of UAPA, inserted by the 2019 amendment.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry is responsible for designating individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA):

1. The UAPA was enacted in 1967.

2. There are 23 terrorist organizations designated under Section 35 of UAPA.

3. The 2019 amendment inserted Section 35 to empower MHA to designate individuals as terrorists.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

How many individuals were designated as terrorists by the MHA on July 4, 2026, as per the news article?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary rationale behind the 2019 amendment to UAPA that allowed individual terrorist designations?

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