In India, the power to enact preventive detention laws is divided between the Union (Parliament) and the State Legislatures. According to the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution:
- The Union has exclusive power for reasons connected with defense, foreign affairs, or the security of India (List I, Entry 9).
- Both the Union and States have concurrent power for reasons connected with the security of a State, maintenance of public order, or maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community (List III, Entry 3).
Below is a list of the primary preventive detention laws categorized by the Union and various States/UTs.
Union Government (Central Laws)
These laws are enacted by Parliament and apply across the country, though they are often executed by state-level machinery.
| Act Name | Purpose |
| National Security Act (NSA), 1980 | General preventive detention for security of the state and public order. |
| Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), 1974 | Prevention of smuggling and conservation of foreign exchange. |
| Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PITNDPS), 1988 | Prevention of drug trafficking. |
| Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 | To prevent activities prejudicial to the supply of essential goods. |
| Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 | While primarily a criminal law, it contains provisions that allow for extended detention during investigation. |
Union Territories
UTs are directly governed by the Union; therefore, the Union laws are their primary framework, but some have unique local extensions.
| Union Territory | Primary Law(s) |
| Jammu & Kashmir | J&K Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978 |
| Ladakh | J&K Public Safety Act, 1978 (Retained after reorganization) |
| Delhi (NCT) | National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Puducherry | National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Lakshadweep | Primarily Central Acts (NSA, PITNDPS) |
| Others (D&NH, DD, etc.) | National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
State Governments
Many states have specific “Prevention of Dangerous Activities” acts (often called Goonda Acts).
| State | Primary Preventive Detention Law(s) |
| Andhra Pradesh | AP Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Dacoits… Act, 1986 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014 |
| Assam | Assam Preventive Detention Act, 1980 |
| Bihar | Bihar Control of Crimes Act, 1981 |
| Chhattisgarh | Chhattisgarh Rajya Suraksha Adhiniyam, 1990 (Inherited from MP) |
| Goa | Relies on National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Gujarat | Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA), 1985 |
| Haryana | Relies on National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Himachal Pradesh | HP Armed Bands (Arrest and Detention) Act, 1969; also relies on NSA |
| Jharkhand | Jharkhand Control of Crimes Act, 2002 |
| Karnataka | Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities… Act, 1985 (Goonda Act) |
| Kerala | Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAPPA), 2007 |
| Madhya Pradesh | M.P. Rajya Suraksha Tatha Lok Vyavastha Adhiniyam, 1980 |
| Maharashtra | Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act, 1981 |
| Manipur | Manipur Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2023 |
| Meghalaya | Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act, 1995 |
| Mizoram | Relies on National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Nagaland | Nagaland Security Regulation, 1962 |
| Odisha | Odisha Preventive Detention Act, 1970 |
| Punjab | Relies on National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Rajasthan | Rajasthan Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2006 |
| Sikkim | Relies on National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities… Act, 1982 (Goondas Act) |
| Telangana | Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities… Act, 1986 |
| Tripura | Relies on National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Uttarakhand | Relies on National Security Act (NSA), 1980 |
| Uttar Pradesh | U.P. Control of Goondas Act, 1970; U.P. Gangsters Act, 1986 |
| West Bengal | West Bengal Prevention of Violent Activities Act, 1970 |
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