The decision was announced as part of the Centre’s “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government remains committed to dismantling every terror network that poses a threat to India’s security.

In a post on social media platform X, Shah said the Ministry of Home Affairs had designated 23 alleged operatives associated with banned terrorist organisations as individual terrorists under the UAPA. He stated that those named are accused of involvement in anti-India activities, including carrying out terror attacks, promoting terrorism, facilitating cross-border infiltration, smuggling arms, raising funds and recruiting operatives for terrorist organisations.

According to the Home Ministry, although six of the designated individuals are Indian nationals, all 23 are currently based in Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and are alleged to be involved in terrorist activities targeting India.

The ministry said the latest action is intended to weaken the operational capabilities of terrorist networks by disrupting their financial systems, restricting their movement, curbing recruitment efforts and limiting other forms of logistical support. Officials also said the designation serves as a deterrent against anti-national and terror-related activities.

The individuals named in the latest notification are linked to banned organisations including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other affiliated groups, according to government notifications. Investigative agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have been pursuing several of the accused in connection with terrorism-related cases in India.

The government has said that formally designating individuals as terrorists under the UAPA strengthens the legal framework available to security and investigative agencies. It enables authorities to initiate coordinated legal, investigative and preventive measures at both the national and international levels, including action against financial networks and assets linked to terrorism.

The latest notification has increased the total number of individuals designated as terrorists under the amended UAPA to 80. The law was amended in 2019 to empower the Central Government to notify individuals as terrorists in addition to proscribed organisations, expanding the scope of India's anti-terror legal framework.

The Centre has maintained that such measures are aimed at strengthening national security and enhancing the ability of law enforcement agencies to counter terrorism, particularly networks operating across the border.