National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Approved by Parliament

July 16, 2019 July 18, 2019

Both the houses of the parliament passed the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The current provisions enable the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate offences under Acts such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967. The amendment bill expands the ambit to investigate offences related to human trafficking, counterfeit currency, manufacture or sale of prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism, and offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
The bill expands the jurisdiction of the NIA to investigate offences committed outside India subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.
The bill amends the provision which allows the Centre to constitute special courts for NIA’s trials by enabling the Central government to designate sessions courts as special courts for such trials.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a premier investigation agency established by the government of India in 2008 by the act of parliament.

To set the standards of excellence in counter-terrorism and other national security-related investigations at the national level by developing into a highly trained, partnership-oriented workforce.
To create deterrence for existing and potential terrorist groups/individuals.
To develop as a storehouse of all terrorist-related information.

The agency was instituted to plug the gaps in the fight against terrorism which was brought into the forefront after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.