The Official Secrets Act, 1923

The Official Secrets Act, 1923 was enacted to safeguard official secrets and sensitive information relating to the security and strategic interests of the Indian state. The Act defines what constitutes an official secret and provides for penalties for espionage, wrongful communication of information, and unauthorized possession of such information. The Act also empowers the government to conduct searches and seize documents suspected to be in violation of the Act. The Act applies to all citizens of India, as well as to people living outside India who are employed by the Indian government. It is important to note that the Act has been amended several times, with the most recent amendment taking place in 2021.