How to Obtain Gun License in India : Full Process

Article on How to Obtain Gun License In India

Author: Apratim De, New Law College BVDU Pune

Note:-As we all know that today’s society is not static in nature but it is rather dynamic and also each person’s behavior varies from one another as a result of which they have different approach towards. So in this article the author has talked about the ways, circumstances and the entire process through which one can obtain weapons license in India.

Process of getting a gun license

1. The first step to proceed with for acquiring a gun license is to submit an application with DCP(licensing) of the concerned locality and after getting permission from the concerned officer then the person can proceed further.
2. Once the application is submitted with the police then it will be further scrutinized by the police that whether the details mentioned in the form like name, address, address and other details are authentic or not. Also, along with this the police will also verify that the reason stated for acquiring the weapon license is justified or not.
3. After the submission of the documents the person who wants to acquire the weapon has to go in person for an interview with a DCP rank officer of the concerned commissionerate where the officer generally asks about why the concerned person has applied for the weapon license, most probable answer given by the people are that because of self-defense. But at the same time it depends upon the officer to give the approval or not as because if the officer is not satisfied with the reason stated by the person for acquiring of the weapon than the concerned officer has the power to disapprove the application requesting to grant the weapons license.
4. Moreover, once the interview is completed then the officer sends the report to NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) and other intelligence agencies for verifying that whether the person who has applied for license has any previous criminal records or not. Other than that the approving officer sometimes asks the local police station of the area to investigate about the behavior of the person in his/her locality so that the person won’t use the weapon for spreading out violence or carrying out illicit activities in the future.
5. So once this entire process is over and the officer is satisfied that the person won’t use the weapon for any other purpose than the mentioned one then the person gets the approval but getting an approval does not mean that the person can now get the weapon in hand
6. After getting the approval the person now has to contact with an authorized dealer of the weapons of his/her choice and has to book in advance to get the gun.

But now as we have discussed the process of acquiring the weapons license in brief the question which still remains unanswered is that from where do one can get the application form for applying for the weapons license?

For this the person can visit to the website of Indian Ordnance Factories where he can find the form which is required to apply for the weapons license.

Documents required to obtain weapons license in India

• Ration Card
• Voter ID card
• Passport Size photographs
• Birth Certificate
• PAN Card
• Attested copy of marksheet(matriculation)
• Passport
• Copy of recent electricity bills

NOTE:- All the above mentioned documents have to be submitted in the form of secondary document but the originals should also be carried with for verification purpose.

Types of guns for which weapons license can be acquired:-

The types of guns for which the common people can acquire license are shotguns, handguns, sporting rifles and moreover the civilians can hold a maximum of three arms licenses. But interestingly it is nowhere mentioned that what combination of guns one can procure on the basis of these three licenses.

Though most of the people hold 1 shotgun + 1 handgun + 1 rifle but this is not the necessary combination which one has to adhere to they can hold the guns of any combination like

• Two shotguns along with one handgun or,
• One rifle along with two shotguns or,
• Two rifles along with one handgun or possibly in any other combination which the person is willing to hold.

But the only condition is that the person cannot hold more than three licenses for procuring weapons in India. Moreover, Moreover, now for acquiring arms license just passing the interview and submission of authentic documents won’t be sufficient but rather the person applying for the license has to undergo a course which will train the applicant about the handling of the weapon along with firing technique and also about the safe procurement and transportation of the weapons.

Circumstances under which the weapons license can be issued:-

• Self Defense:- If the applicant can prove that there is a serious threat to his/her life and their right to life is infringed then they can get the approval to hold a weapon license as long as it risks the life of an individual and is used by them in their self defense.
• Sports:- Another group of people who can acquire weapons license to procure weapons are the sports person who are mainly involved in sports like shooting.

But here also the sports persons does not have absolute rights regarding procurement and handling of the guns and therefore they also have to follow certain rules and regulations which are laid down by the law of our country.

• Protection against wild animals:- Weapons license can also be acquired by the people like farmers residing villages to protect themselves against the wild animals residing in jungles and which sometimes aggressively attacks the villages.

NOTE:- Also it has to be kept in mind that the final power to weather give or not to give a weapons license to an individual depends upon the concerned officials.  

Authorised dealers of different types of weapons

The following is the list of authorised dealers who are to be contacted for procurement of different licensed weapons:-

1. 0.32” Revolver MK-III

 This weapon is sold from the factories directly mentioned as under:-

2.  0.32” Revolver (Long Barrel) (ANMOL)

      This weapon is sold from the factories directly mentioned as under:-

3.  0.32” Revolver MK-III(L) (NIRBHEEK)

        This weapon is sold from the factories directly mentioned as under:-

4.   0.32” Revolver(MK-IV)

        This weapon is sold from the factories directly mentioned as under:-

5. 0.32” Pistol

This weapon is sold directly from the following factory through online.

          For GSF : (GSF website www.gsf.gov.in, e-mail: [email protected]).

          For RFI : (RFI website www.rfi.gov.in, e-mail: [email protected]).

Current waiting time for receiving .32 pistol at GSF, Cossipore and RFI, Ishapore is approximately 3 months after booking of order. It may increase or decrease depending on actual production and demand.

6.        Modified 0.32″ Pistol

This weapon is sold directly from the following factory.

7.      0.32″ Pistol (Ashani MK-II)

This weapon is sold directly from the following factory.

8.        0.22″ Sporting Rifle

This weapon is sold directly from the following factory, in addition to sale through dealers.

9.       0.30-06″ Sporting Rifle

This weapon is sold through dealers.

10.        0.315″ Sporting Rifle

 This weapon is sold through dealers.

11.       0.22” Revolver

           This weapon is sold through dealers.

12.      12. 22″ Revolver NIDAR

This weapon is sold directly from the following factory, in addition to sale through dealers.

13.        12 Bore PAG (Side Fold)

This weapon is sold directly from the following factory, in addition to sale through dealers.

14.        12 Bore PAG (Fixed Butt)

          This weapon is sold directly from the following factory, in addition to sale through dealers

15.        Outlet Factories

0.32 Revolvers/ Pistols are also sold at outlets in the following factories. A customer who wants to purchase a weapon from any of these outlets, should take application form and book his order in the outlet, after ascertaining about stock / waiting period from the same outlet.

          1.Ordnance Cable Factory,

          Chandigarh-160002.

          Ph – (0172) 2650-577 /-526

          2.Ordnance Factory,

Muradnagar -201206 (UP)

Ph – (01232) 228910-13

3.Gun Carriage Factory,

Jabalpur -482001 (MP)

Ph – (0761) 2330016-19

4.Ordnance Factory, Ambajhari,

Nagpur -440021

Ph – (07104) 237845-49

5.Heavy Vehicle Factory,

Avadi, Chennai -600054.

Tamilnadu.

Ph – (044) 26840599, 26843000

6.Machine Tool Prototype Factory,

Ambarnath(W), Dist-Thane -421502.

Maharashtra.

0Ph – (0251) 2610884, 2610655, 2610886/7

NOTE:- (i)  For further details please refer to the official website of Indian Ordnance Factories at  http://ofb.gov.in/index.php?wh=Purchase&lang=en

(ii) Prices of various guns mentioned above will change after adding tax to it. So for exact prices kindly contact to the above mentioned telephone numbers of the concerned outlet.

(iii) Also for application forms for the licensed weapons one can find the forms at http://ofb.gov.in/index.php?wh=Purchase&lang=en

Some frequently asked questions related to procurement of weapons license in India:-

• How one can buy or procure guns in India?

    Ans:- For buying guns in India one has to submit the license in the office of DCP licensing by  the applicant or through his representatives along with the following documents:-

• Ration Card
• Voter ID card
• Passport Size photographs
• Birth Certificate
• PAN Card
• Attested copy of marksheet(matriculation)
• Passport
• Copy of recent electricity bills
• Posting certificate/recommendation from the commanding officer(in case of Armed Forces Personnel)

2.        How does one can renew their gun license?

   Ans:- The arms license can be renewed for a period of three years and the following    documents are required at the time of renewal:-

• • Verification of documents:- In the first step the documents are verified by the concerned officer comprising of documents which acts as proof of residence along with the application form.
  • Inspection of Weapons:- Once the documents are scrutinized by the officials then in the next step the weapon for which the license is renewed is inspected(like type of arms,its bore no,weapon etc) and ultimately is verified by the concerned officer at the office of DCP(licensing).

• Deposition of fees:- Once the documents and weapons are verified then the next step involved in the process of renewing of license is that the payment of prescribed fees for the renewal of license. Also once the prescribed fees is paid for the renewal of the license then the weapon can be collected along with the renewed license.

    Note:- The weapon license  can be renewed one month prior to the expiry of the license and also the license can be renewed a month later after the expiry of the license also once the prescribed date for the renewal of the license is passed then the renewal will be done by paying the late fees for the same.

3.   What is the procedure to issue the duplicate arms license?

Ans:-

(i).The duplicate arms license can be issued in the case if a person loses his/her original arms license book along with this the licensee has to write an application on a plain paper with the copy of FIR along with two passport size photographs of the licensee also the document has to be attested by a gazetted officer along with an affidavit on a Rs.10/- stamp paper attested by a notary comprising of the details of the arms license which he/she has lost.

(ii) Also in case the old license book is damaged or completed then the licensee can apply for a new license book but for that they have to submit an application on a plain piece of paper along with two passport size photographs, the old license book duly attested by an government officer.

4. How to sell the weapons which exists on an arm license?

Ans:- If the licensee wishes to sell the weapon(s), which exists on his license he/she will apply on prescribed Performa along with Original Arm License and photocopy of Arm License of purchaser. Also he/she can sell the weapon to authorized arms dealer after obtaining permission from this office, the weapon can be transferred on the license of the purchaser only after 45 days. After 45 days he/she will inform this office about the sale of the weapon and the same will be deleted from their license.

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