National Investigation Agency (NIA)

Introduction

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is India’s counter-terrorism task force, founded under the NIA Act of 2008 as a special agency for investigating and prosecuting acts under the NIA Act’s provisions. 

• The National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 was passed by the Indian Parliament on December 31, 2008, in the aftermath of the horrific Mumbai terror attack on December 26, 2008. 
• 26/11 Mumbai terror attack clearly surfaced the failure of intelligence and ability to track such activities by existing agencies in India; therefore, the government of India realised the requirement of a specific body to deal with terror activities in India, thereby establishing the NIA.