Flare gun for distress signal requires licence?

[ratish]

Please confirm if flare gun requires any licence? can it be freely kept??

[Katana]

Can you please elaborate as to why you would want to keep it?

Maybe to to let off a shot if the plastic ducky starts sinking in your bath tub?

A background to such a query would help.

[BowMan]

plastic ducky starts sinking

Lol...what exactly is that ducky thingy Katana?

[ratish]

it is required for the yacht...

[tiwariarrun]

Flare gun = blank gun. It doesn't need any license. You can freely keep it or not? Depends on why do you need it.

[Safarigent]

A flare gun is not a blank gun.

[goodboy_mentor]

Can a flare gun fire a projectile? If a flare gun can fire a projectile then as per Section 2(1)(e) of Arms Act 1959, it is a firearm and would require license. If a flare gun cannot fire a projectile i.e. it is not capable of being used as a firearm, then as per Section 45(c) of Arms Act 1959, it is is exempt from Arms Act 1959.

[Anand]

Flare guns are generally capable of shooting low pressure glowing projectiles which leave a smoke trail. They are designed to shoot these into the air vertically in situations of distress, usually by the military or expeditionary groups seeking help by visual means when other means of communication fail.

So yes they shoot projectiles, discharged in the same manner as firearms. However, most countries do not classify them as firearms in the true sense. Some of these flare guns are capable of or have been converted to discharge 12 Bore shot shells.
Regards,
An and

[Safarigent]

The biggest use of flare guns is in shipping.
I havent been able to find anything which tells us whether a license is required or not.
Some members with a marine background will be able address this topic better

[goodboy_mentor]

Extract of Section 45(a) of Arms Act 1959:-

45. Act not to apply in certain cases.

Nothing in this Act shall apply to---

(a) arms or ammunition on board any sea-going vessel or any aircraft and forming part of the ordinary armament or equipment of such vessel or aircraft;

The legal problem may commence if the flare gun is taken from the sea going vessel and carried into the landed territory of the country.

[Rishabhshukla]

Being in the Navy I can answer this the best .... You can keep a flare gun freely in your boat but you can never carry it freely on land the law or indian territorial waters says that any legal sailing equipment is free to carry any life saving appliance with it ( firearms of non restricted caliber according to international law won't be questioned until they remain away from the shore. And you don't try to carry them to the indian land territories)