The central defence and national security laws of India rest on the three service Acts — Army, Navy and Air Force — joined by the National Security Act, the Official Secrets Act and the 2021 law protecting essential defence services.
Defence is exclusively a central subject. The three service statutes set the disciplinary code for the armed forces, tried by courts-martial with appeals to the Armed Forces Tribunals created under a separate 2007 Act. Alongside them sit the preventive-detention and official-secrets laws that protect the state itself, and the Cantonments Act for the civilian side of military stations.
This page lists the principal central statutes, what each covers, and links to authoritative texts. All acts here are central laws enacted by Parliament — state-enacted laws are covered separately.
Contents
The Service Acts
| Act | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950) | The service law of the Indian Army: enlistment, discipline, courts-martial and appeals. |
| Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957) | The corresponding service law for the Indian Navy and naval discipline. |
| Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950) | The service law of the Indian Air Force: discipline, courts-martial and appeals. |
Security Statutes
| Act | What it covers |
|---|---|
| National Security Act, 1980 (65 of 1980) | Preventive detention where the security of India or public order requires it, with advisory-board safeguards. |
| Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923) | Espionage and the protection of official secrets and prohibited places. |
| Essential Defence Services Act, 2021 (25 of 2021) | Prohibition of strikes and lockouts in essential defence services, with arbitration in their place. |
| Cantonments Act, 2006 (41 of 2006) | Cantonment boards and the civic administration of cantonment areas. |
For terror-offence statutes such as UAPA, see our central criminal laws library; for habeas-corpus remedies, the constitutional and administrative laws library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be detained under the National Security Act?
A person whose detention the government is satisfied is necessary to protect the security of India, the security of a state or public order; the case must go to an advisory board within weeks, as the Act prescribes.
Does a court-martial decision appeal anywhere?
Yes — to the Armed Forces Tribunal, and from there to the Supreme Court on points of law.
Are cantonments governed by municipal law?
By their own regime under the Cantonments Act, 2006, administered by cantonment boards rather than ordinary municipalities.
This page is a general library guide published for the Knowledge Centre and is not legal advice. For advice on a specific matter, please contact the firm.