Question : Amendment in Arms Licensing

(a) whether there is any proposal to amend the licensing system for arms in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is examining a proposal to increase the validity of licenses to life time with periodic police verifications;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the automated National Data Base on Arms Licenses (NDAL) is now available for 74% of licensed arms across the country and the licensees could be tracked anytime;

(e) if so, whether this decision is expected to limit the scope for corruption; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a): Yes, Madam. It is proposed to amend licensing system for arms to make it contemporary with the current socio-economic and internal security scenario of the country and also to make it more citizen-friendly.

(b) & (c): No, Madam. There is no proposal to increase the validity of arms licences to life time of the licensee.

(d) & (f): Yes, Madam. As on date, the automated NDAL is available for 82% of the arms licences.
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