Gun law in India

[1] In 1878, the British Raj passed the Indian Arms Act, 1878, which regulated the manufacture, sale, possession and carry of firearms in British-ruled India.

[3] That led to the replacement of the .303 with 8×50mmR Mannlicher, locally known as .315 Indian, demise of .375/303 hunting cartridge, which had to be replaced with .318, as well as to a rush by British rifle and ammunition makers to develop substitutes for now-banned popular big-game hunting rounds (Holland & Holland created the .465, Joseph Lang the .470, an unidentified firm the .475 Nitro Express, Eley Brothers the .475 No 2 Nitro Express and Westley Richards the .476,[4] with the .470 NE becoming the most popular).

The right to bear arms was admitted as a fundamental right into 1931 Karachi Resolution that was drafted by Mahatma Gandhi, though this was ultimately rejected by the constituent assembly.

The SOPs required all air gun owners to test their firearms and furnish details of purchase.

It also instructed all DCs to delegate each of their Sub-Divisional Commissioners (SDC/SDO/SDM) in charge of the Arms Branch to coordinate and conduct tests of air guns.

It was stipulated that an Armorer be requisitioned by the District Magistrate from the Superintendent of Police (SP) to assist in the testing.

For example, in 2019 the commissioner of Firozpur district in Punjab ordered that every license applicant must plant at least 10 trees and take photos with them.

Sports shooters without permits from a club and the NRAI carrying air guns are subject to imprisonment.

Violation of this rule can lead to revocation of the license and seizure of the firearm in addition to the penalty specified under the Arms Act 1959.