Origin of AFSPA

The Act came into force in the context of increasing violence in the North-eastern States decades ago, which the State governments found difficult to control. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Bill was passed by both the Houses of Parliament and it was approved by the President on September 11, 1958. It became known as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.
In 1983, the AFSPA was enforced in Punjab and Union territory of Chandigarh, and withdrawn in 1997. In 1990, Jammu and Kashmir was declared a ‘disturbed area’ and AFSPA was enforced in the region, where Army continues to have special privileges.
Apart from the whole of Nagaland, the AFSPA is in force in Assam and parts of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The Act was revoked in Meghalaya on April 1, 2018.