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Act54
Enacted 1959

The Arms Act, 1959

In force 48 sections Home Affairs

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to arms and ammunition.

Act 54 of 1959 Enacted 23 Dec 1959 In force 01 Oct 1962 Department Department of Internal Security

Administered by. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Internal Security · Other Acts of 1959

Preamble

THE ARMS ACT, 1959

ACT NO. 54 OF 19591

[23rd December, 1959.] An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Arms and Ammunition.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Tenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:--

What this Act covers

Summary of the Arms Act, 1959

Key Provisions

Licencing and Regulations

*Mandatory Licences: For acquisition, possession, manufacture, sale, import, export, and transport of arms and ammunition. *Prohibitions:

• Acquisition/possession of prohibited arms/ammunition.

• Sale/transfer of unmarked firearms.

• Transactions with minors or restricted persons.

Powers and Procedures

*Authority Powers: Police and authorized officers can demand licence production, arrest, and conduct searches. *Offences: Cognizable, with provisions for prosecution and penalties.

Exemptions

• Applies to arms/ammunition on sea-going vessels, aircraft (ordinary armament), and certain government/public servant uses.

Sections

Type to filter. 48 sections.

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2Definitions and interpretation
  3. 3Licence for acquisition and possession of firearms and ammunition
  4. 4Licence for acquisition and possession of arms of specified description in certain cases
  5. 5Licence for manufacture, sale, etc., of arms and ammunition
  6. 6Licence for the shortening of guns or conversion of imitation firearms into firearms
  7. 7Prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition
  8. 8Prohibition of sale or transfer of firearms not bearing identification marks
  9. 9Prohibition of acquisition or possession by, or of sale or transfer to, young persons and certain other persons of firearms, etc
  10. 10Licence for import and export of arms, etc
  11. 11Power to prohibit import or export of arms, etc
  12. 12Power to restrict or prohibit transport of arms
  13. 13Grant of licences
  14. 14Refusal of licences
  15. 15Duration and renewal of licence
  16. 16Fees, etc., for licence
  17. 17Variation, suspension and revocation of licences
  18. 18Appeals
  19. 19Powers to demand production of licence, etc
  20. 20Arrest of persons conveying arms, etc., under suspicious circumstances
  21. 21Deposit of arms, etc., on possession ceasing to be lawful
  22. 22Search and seizure by magistrate
  23. 23Search of vessels, vehicles for arms, etc
  24. 24Seizure and detention under orders of the Central Government
  25. 24AProhibition as to possession of notified arms in disturbed areas, etc
  26. 24BProhibition as to carrying of notified arms in or through public places in disturbed areas etc
  27. 25Punishment for certain offences
  28. 26Secret contraventions
  29. 27Punishment for using arms, etc
  30. 28Punishment for use and possession of firearms or imitation firearms in certain cases
  31. 29Punishment for knowingly purchasing arms, etc., from unlicensed person or for delivering arms, etc., to person not entitled to possess the same
  32. 30Punishment for contravention of licence or rule
  33. 31Punishment for subsequent offences
  34. 32Power to confiscate
  35. 33Offences by companies
  36. 34Sanction of Central Government for warehousing of arms
  37. 35Criminal responsibility of persons in occupation of premises in certain cases
  38. 36Information to be given regarding certain offences
  39. 37Arrest and searches
  40. 38Offences to be cognizable
  41. 39Previous sanction of the district magistrate necessary in certain cases
  42. 40Protection of action taken in good faith
  43. 41Power to exempt
  44. 42Power to take census of firearms
  45. 43Power to delegate
  46. 44Power to make rules
  47. 45Act not to apply in certain cases
  48. 46Repeal of Act 11 of 1878

Rules made under this Act

25 sets of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.

  • Arms(Amendment) Rules 2020 GSR 108(E)2020
  • Arms(Amendment) Rules 2020 GSR 11(E)2020
  • Arms(Amendment) Rules 2020 GSR 625(E)2020
  • Notification No. S.O. 3872(E) dated 29.10.20192019
  • Notification No. S.O. 665(E) dated 12.02.20192019
  • S.O. 1501(E) dated 02/04/2019 on amendment to S.O. 6203 (E) dated 14/12/20182019
  • G.S.R. 1079(E) dated 01/11/2018 on Amendment of Form X pertaining to export of firearms2018
  • G.S.R. 644(E) dated 12/07/2018 on effective of NDAL-UIN2018
  • G.S.R. 741(E) dated 03/08/2018 corrigendum to G.S.R. 644(E) dated 12/07/20182018
  • S.O. 2049(E) dated 22/05/2018 on Delegation of powers for import of Small Arms.2018
  • S.O. 5607(E) dated 01/11/2018 on Delegation of powers of import and export of Small Arms.2018
  • S.O. 6203(E) dated 14/12/2018, Supersession of notification S.O 1636 (E) dated 19.05.17 on Delegation of power on Deptt. of Industrial Policy and Promotion2018
  • Clarification of notification of notification 1636(E) dated 22/09/20172017
  • Exemption in licence fees2017
  • G.S.R. 1342(E) dated 27/10/2017 on Amendment in Fee Structure, setting up of multi unit facility, lifetime validity of licence issued in Form VII to manufacturers etc.2017
  • G.S.R. 1468(E) dated 28/11/2017 on last dated of uploading on ALIS-NDAL portal2017
  • S.O. 1636(E) dated 19/05/2017 on Delegation of power to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion2017
  • Arms Rules, 20162016
  • Fresh application for Arms licences2016
  • G.S.R. 701(E) dated 15/07/2019 on Arms Rules 20162016
  • S.O. 2461(E) dated 18/07/2016 on Firearms replica2016
  • S.O. 1988(E) dated 04/08/2014 on exemption of sport persons2014
  • S.O. 1988(E). dated 4th August, 2014 on Arms Licences to Sport persons2014
  • Empowering CAPFs Officers and SOs under Arms Act2010
  • Arms Rules, 19621962

Related Acts

Ordinances

India Code records no parent Act for an ordinance, so these are tied to this Act by their own titles and their dates rather than by anything the source states. An ordinance is made when Parliament is not sitting and lapses six weeks into the next session unless it is enacted.

  • The Arms(Amendment) Ordinance, 1988.amended this Act · 1988

All Ordinances

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 48 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.