• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into the June 28 killing of tailor in Rajasthan’s Udaipur as well as the investigation of a similarly executed murder of pharmacist at Amravati in Maharashtra.

What is the NIA?

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was constituted under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008.
• It is a central agency mandated to investigate all the offences affecting
• the sovereignty, security and integrity of India
• friendly relations with foreign states
• offences under the statutory laws enacted to implement international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations.
• The agency has the power to search, seize, arrest and prosecute those involved in such offences.
• Headquartered in Delhi
• Branches :- Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur, Jammu, Chandigarh, Ranchi, Chennai, Imphal, Bengaluru and Patna.

Formation of NIA :

• The agency came into existence on December 31, 2008 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in November 2008.
• Started its functioning in 2009.

Jurisdiction of NIA :

• The agency’s operation extends to
• the whole of India
• applies to Indian citizens outside the country
• persons in the service of the government wherever they are posted
• persons on ships and aircraft registered in India wherever they may be
• persons who commit a scheduled offence beyond India against the Indian citizen or affecting the interest of India.
• The schedule to the Act specifies a list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by the NIA.
• These include offences under Acts such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
• In September 2020, the Centre empowered the NIA to also probe offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act that are connected to terror cases.

How does the NIA take up a probe?

• A State Government may request the Central Government to hand over the investigation of a case to the NIA, provided the case has been registered for the offences as contained in the schedule to the NIA Act.
• Central Government can also order NIA to take over investigation of any scheduled offense anywhere in the India.

Model Question

Q. With reference to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), consider the following statements :

1. NIA is a constitutional body, mandated to conduct investigations in India.
2. The jurisdiction of NIA extends to the whole of India as well as to Indian citizens outside the country.
3. The State governments can refer the cases to the Union Home Ministry for NIA investigation.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer : B

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