Defence personnel before their retirement or ater retirement may feel necessity to get a gun license. According to Arms Rules, any person in service or having served in the Defence Forces, Central Armed Police Forces or the State Police Force and has genuine requirement to protect his life and/or property may apply for gun license.

National Database of Arms Licenses-Arms License Issuance System (NDAL-ALIS) is a portal developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate entrepreneurs and industries applying for licenses related to manufacture of arms and ammunition and to facilitate individuals applying for arms licenses under Arms Act, 1959 and Arms Rules, 2016. The portal offers 29 services for the applicants. This facility provides impetus to the Make in India initiative of the Government of India by promoting ease of doing business. It has been noticed that Defence personnel who are trained in operating Fire Arms intended to get arms license and keep fir arms to get a job of Armed Guard in various organisations.

First Time SPARSH Users : Imp Steps to Follow

Who is eligible to get Arms License

Every individual, sports individual & institution applying for a fresh arms license for the license on FORM II, III & IV under A1/ A3 as per schedule III of Arms Rules 2016. Every individual, sports individual & institution applying for renewal of arms license for the license on FORM II, III, IV & V under A2/ A4 as per schedule III of Arms Rules 2016. Every individual/ firm applying for fresh arms dealer license for the license on FORM VIII & VIII A under A6 as per schedule III of Arms Rules 2016.

Grant of New Gun License to Defence Personnel

The Arms Rules, 2016 have not brought in any new restrictions on grant of licences to individuals. The provisions for grant of licences as contained in the Arms Act, 1959 are extracted hereunder – Arms Act, 1959 Section 13(3) (3) The licensing authority shall grant –

(a) a licence under Section 3 where the licence is required- (i) by a citizen of India in respect of a smooth bore gun having a barrel of not less than twenty inches in length to be used for protection or sport or in respect of a muzzle loading gun to be used for bona fide crop protection: Provided that where having regard to the circumstances of any case, the licensing authority is satisfied that a muzzle loading gun will not be sufficient for crop protection, the licensing authority may grant a licence in respect of any other smooth bore gun as aforesaid for such protection, or (ii) in respect of a point 22-bore rifle or an air rifle to be used for target practice by a member of a rifle club or rifle association licensed or recognized by the Central Government;

(b) a licence under section 3 in any other case or a licence under section 4, section 5, section 6, section 10 or section 12, if the licensing authority is satisfied that the person by whom any licence is required has a good reason for obtaining the same. Arms Rules, 2016 The obligations of the licensing authorities for grant of licences for permissible category of arms and ammunition have been brought in rule 20(3) of the Arms Rules, 2016, namely- (3) For grant of a licence for the permissible arms or ammunition specified in category III in Schedule I, and without prejudice to the provisions contained in clause (a) of sub- section (3) of section 13, the licensing authority, based on the police report and on his own assessment, may consider the applications of – (a) any person who by the very nature of his business, profession, job or otherwise has genuine requirement to protect his life and/or property; or (b) any dedicated sports person being active member for the last two years, of a shooting club or a rifle association, licensed under these rules and who wants to pursue sport shooting for target practice in a structured learning process;

or (c) any person in service or having served in the Defence Forces, Central Armed Police Forces or the State Police Force and has genuine requirement to protect his life and/or property. Perusal of the above provisions amplify that no new restrictions have been introduced for grant of licenses to individuals.

Arms License Mannual is availabe in the official website as link provided at the bottom of this article, just read it once, the process is described here in details.

Fee Structure for apply of New Arms License.

All India Validity of Gun License

The District Magistrate may grant All India Validity for the following categories of licensees: a) Union Ministers or Member of Parliament; b) Personnel of Defence Forces and Central Armed Police Forces; c) Officers of All India Services; d) Officers in the Government or Government Sector Undertakings or Public Sector Undertakings with liability to serve anywhere in India; e) Dedicated sports persons and the sports persons specified in serial numbers (1) to (4) of the table in sub-rule (2) of rule 40. In other cases, the powers to grant All India Validity are with the State Government who will decide on the application forwarded by the concerned District Magistrate.

Anomaly in Reservation for Exservicemen in Govt Jobs – SSC CGL 2023

Document required for Gun License to Individuals

As per rule 11 of the Arms Rules, 2016, an applicant has to submit the following documents along with the application form: (a) four passport size copies of the latest photograph of the applicant (in white background); (b) proof of date of birth; (c) identification proof – (i) Aadhar Card; or (ii) in case the applicant does not have Aadhar Card, a written declaration in the form of an Affidavit to be submitted in this regard along with an alternative identification proof which may include Passport or Voter’s Identification Card or Permanent Account Number (PAN) card or Identity Card issued to the employees; (iii) in case of exemptee sports persons, shooters identification card issued by the National Rifle Association of India. (d) residence proof in case the applicant does not possess Aadhar Card or Passport, which may include – (i) voter’s identification card; or (ii) electricity bill; or (iii) landline telephone bill; or (iv) rent deed or lease deed or property documents;or (v) any other document to the satisfaction of the licensing authority. (e) safe use and storage of firearms undertaking referred to in sub- rule (4) of rule 10; (f) for professional category applicant, referred to under clause (a) of sub-rule (3) of rule 12, self-attested copies of the educational and professional qualification certificates, wherever applicable; (g) medical certificate about mental health and physical fitness of the applicant with specific mention that the applicant is not dependent on intoxicating or narcotic substances (in Form S-3); (h) in case of an application for a licence in Form IV, the particulars specified in sub-rule (2) of rule 35 along with a permit from the authority empowered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972);

Permissible categories of Gun license

Rule 12 defines the obligations of the licensing authorities for grant of licences to the applicants for permissible category of arms and ammunition to:- (a) any person who by the very nature of his business, profession, job or otherwise has genuine requirement to protect his life and/or property; or (b) any dedicated sports person being active member for the last two years, of a shooting club or a rifle association, licensed under these rules and who wants to pursue sport shooting for target practice in a structured learning process; or (c) any person in service or having served in the Defence Forces, Central Armed Police Forces or the State Police Force and has genuine requirement to protect his life and/or property.

Restrictions on carrying Arms in Public Place

Rule 32 of the Arms Rules, 2016 deal with the restrictions on carrying of firearm in public place: (1) No person shall carry a firearm in a public place unless the firearm is carried – (a) in the case of a handgun – (i) in a holster or similar holder designed, manufactured or adapted for the carrying of a handgun and attached to his person; or (ii) in a rucksack or similar holder; or (b) in the case of any other firearm, in a holder designed, manufactured or adapted for the carrying of a firearm. (2) A firearm contemplated in sub-rule (1) must be completely covered and the person carrying the firearm must be able to exercise effective control over such firearm. (3) Brandishing or discharge of firearms or blank-firing firearms in any public place or a firearm free zone is strictly prohibited. (4) Any violation of this rule shall be liable to revocation of the licence and seizure of the firearm in addition to the penalty specified under the Act.

Direct Entry in JCO Agniveer cadre in Indian Army

FAQ on Gun License – https://ndal-alis.gov.in/armslicence/faq.do

Online Application link for Arms License – https://ndal-alis.gov.in/armslicence/applyOnline.do

You may read the Govt Policies on Arms related rules and circulars issued from time to time.

These steps are essential to get gun license / firearm license in India

Submit an application to the district superintendent of the police of your state.
Police clearance on the basis of background of the applicant is necessary. Police will send the reports to both the crime branch and the national crime record bureau. The thereafter communicated to the respective commissioner of Police. If the report is satisfactory and the applicant is considered then the license will be granted.
Once you get the gun license, the applicant has to contact the dealer for the purchase of the gun. The customer will have to book a pre-order to get the gun from any licensed shop of their choice.
The applicant should also fill in application form for NDAL (National Database on Arms License) as well. Submit it to the Arms Act Department for uploading in the National Database and generate Unique ID. Online application is mandatory.

Disclaimer : The information provided here is for educational purpose only and has no legal value. Source of the information is https://ndal-alis.gov.in/armslicence/ issued by Govt of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. Person/ organisation intended to get Arms license must go through the official website of the Govt of India as link provided above.