New Exemption Notification for Sports Persons

[neeraj]

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 4th August, 2014


S.O. 1988(E) – Whereas the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to exempt certain classes of persons from the operation of some of the provisions of the Arms Act, 1959 (54 of 1959).

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 41 of
the Arms Act, 1959 (54 of 1959) and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs vide number S.O. 667(E) dated the 12th September, 1985, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession the Central Government hereby exempts the classes of the persons specified in column (2) of the Schedule hereto annexed, in respect of the arms of the category of description specified in the corresponding entry in column (3) thereof, when carried or possessed for their own personal use for the purpose of training or use in competitions, from the operations of the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 3 and clause (a) (i) of sub-section (1) of section 9, of the said Act and subject to such conditions as are specified in the corresponding entries in column (4) of the said Schedule, namely:-

2. Definitions –

For the purposes of this notification –

(a) 'International Championship' means the Asian Games, the Asian Shooting Championship, the Asian Women or Asian Junior Shooting Championship, the Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth Shooting Championships, the Olympic Games, the World Junior or Senior Shooting Championships and the World Cups in Senior as well Junior events;
(b) 'International Medalist' means a person who has won an individual or team medal in an International Championship;
(c) 'Renowned Shooter' means a person who has participated in a National Shooting Championship in an Open Men's Event or Open Women's Event or Open Civilian's Event whether through Qualifying Tournament or Wild Card Entry conducted in accordance with the rules of International Shooting Union and has attained the Minimum Qualifying Score prescribed by the National Rifle Association;
(d) 'Junior Target Shooter' means a person who has completed the age of twelve years but is below the age of twenty one years and has taken part in at least one State Championship (held once a year) or in the Zonal Championship or National Level Shooting Competition recognized by National Rifle Association and/or by respective State Rifle Association;

(e) 'Aspiring Shooter' means a person who has taken part in at least one State Championship (held once a year or in the Zonal Championship or National Level Shooting Competition recognized by National Rifle Association and/or by respective State Rifle Association and attained the prescribed Minimum Qualifying Score approved by the National Rifle Association of India.
3. Certifying bodies –


(a) the certifying body for persons specified at Serial No. (1) of the Schedule shall be the Government of India in the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The certificate shall specifically state that the award was conferred for excellence as a shooter.

(b) the certifying body for the persons specified at Serial No. (2) of the Schedule shall be the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). The certificate shall specifically state the Medal has been won by the ‘International Medalists’ in the International Championships and in case of Renowned Shooters the Merit Certificate issued shall mention the Qualifying Score along with the Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS) for the event as specified by NRAI.

(c) the certifying bodies for the persons specified at Serial No. (3) and (4) of the Schedule shall be the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) or the approved or affiliated State Rifle Association(s) of NRAI. The Certificate issued shall mention the Qualifying Score along with the Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS) for the event as specified by NRAI/State Rifle Association.

(d) the certifying body for the entities mentioned at Serial No. (5) of the Schedule shall be as under –
Entity Certifying Body
Shooting Clubs/ District Rifle Associations affiliated with State Rifle Associations or National Rifle Association of India State Rifle Association or National Rifle Association of India
State Rifle Association National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

Shooting Ranges Sports Authority of India / Sports Authority of the State Government/National Rifle Association of India

4. Other conditions of exemption: -

The exemption hereby granted under this notification shall further be subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(a) The Junior Target Shooter claiming exemption under the notification has completed the age of twelve years.

(b) Area Validity of the licenses issued to the persons mentioned at Serial No. 1 to 4 of the Schedule will be for All India and the issuing licensing authority shall be authorized to grant the same without referring it to the Central or the State Government for approval.

(c) For Exemptees at serial No. 1 and serial No.2 of the Schedule, a weapon with spare or conversion barrels is to be treated as one weapon only at the time of endorsement on the licence and full details of the said weapon and such spare or conversion barrel shall be endorsed on the respective Arms Licence.

5. Publication of details of eligible exemptees: -
The database in respect of all such eligible exemptees shall be put on the website of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and/or that of National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) so that cross verification is possible by any licensing authority.
SCHEDULE
Exemptions related to possession of Arms
Sr. No. Persons or class of persons
Categories/descriptions of arms Conditions
(1) (2) (3) (4)

1. Arjuna Awardee General exemption on the number of arms to be possessed provided that the Arjuna Award is conferred in shooting. The person must hold a certificate issued by the appropriate certifying body referred to in paragraph 3 of this notification.
2. International Medalist/
Renowned Shooter
(i) Rifles in caliber .22 Long Rifle (also known as .22 LR).

(ii) Center fire Rifles with calibers up to 8mm including all calibers lower than 8mm;

(iii) Pistol/ Revolvers of caliber up to and including 9 mm but excluding 9 mm parabellum (9x19 mm);


(iv) Shotguns of caliber up to 12 bore/gauge including all calibers lower than 12 bore/gauge.

(1) The total number of weapons exempted shall not exceed seven in addition to the number of weapons he is entitled to possess as a normal citizen as per the provisions of the Act, subject to an overall ceiling of ten weapons.

(2) The person must hold a certificate issued by the appropriate certifying body referred to in paragraph 3 of this notification.
Notes:

(a) If a shooter is renowned in one event only, the maximum number of weapons he can possess shall be seven (i.e. four in the exempted category plus three weapons which he can possess as a normal citizen under sub-section 2 of Section 3 of the Act);
(b) If a shooter is renowned in more than one event, the maximum number of weapons he can possess shall be ten (i.e. seven in the exempted category plus three weapons which he can possess as a normal citizen under sub-section 2 of Section 3 of the Act);
3. Junior Target Shooter

Type of arms used in the event in which the person is a Junior Target Shooter
(1) The exemption is restricted to one weapon of any category in which the person is a Junior Target Shooter.
(2) The person must hold a certificate issued by the appropriate certifying body referred in paragraph 3 of this Notification.
4. Aspiring Shooter Type of arms used in the event in which the person is an Aspiring Shooter
(1) The exemption is restricted to one weapon of any category in which the person is a Junior Target Shooter.
(2) The person must hold a certificate issued by the appropriate certifying body referred in paragraph 3 of this Notification.
5. National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)/Affiliated State Rifle Association(s) with NRAI/District Rifle Association(s) affiliated with State Rifle Association(s)/
All Shooting Clubs affiliated with the State Rifle Association or NRAI/
All Shooting Ranges under the Sports Authority of India or the Sports Authority of the State Governments. (i) Rifles in caliber. 22 Long Rifle (also known as .22 LR).

(ii) Center fire Rifles with calibers up to 8mm including all calibers lower than 8mm

(iii) Pistol/ Revolvers of caliber up to and including 9 mm but excluding 9 mm parabellum (9x19 mm)

(iv) Shotguns of caliber up to 12 bore/gauge including all calibers lower than 12 bore/gauge. (1) No upper limit on the number of Arms, subject to the discretion of the licensing authority based on the recommendations of the certifying body.

(2) The entity must hold a certificate issued by the appropriate certifying body referred to in paragraph 3 of this notification.


[F.No. V-11026/59/2011-Arms]
BHAGWAN SHANKAR, Jt. Secy.

[Peacefulguns]

Some movement towards easier ownership. Looks good on the face of it.

[neeraj]

Original Notification attached.

[aditya mohite]

does it mean that a nrai life member can import a rifle ???

[neeraj]

The Exemption Notification is applicable to the categories of persons/entities as given in Para 2 (definitions). It gives exemptions from the total number of weapons to be held and the age. The change is in the total number of weapons which may be held by International Medalists/Renowned Shooters wherein the total cap of ten weapons as enunciated in 2002 has been retained. However it has been spelled out clearly that exemption is for 7 weapons and 3 weapons as a normal person as per section 3. The confusion of 4th weapon to members of Rifle Clubs has been decimated by this clarification as compared to earlier notification of 2013 which was 6+3. Other changes pertain to that certification powers have been restored to NRAI from Ministry of Sports. Another welcome change is with regard to spare or conversion barrels to exempted persons which created problems for sports persons with the licensing authorities. All India validity to all the exemptees has been made clear by defining it with the district licensing authorities. List of eligible exemptees has to be put on the NRAI website, which is a welcome measure for cross reference. As far the ammunition limits are concerned a separate advisory is expected soon. Import/Export is regulated by EXIM policy which the DGFT lays down. Ordinary Members of NRAI/State Rifle Clubs/District Rifle Clubs are not covered under this Notification.

[aditya mohite]

thank u for the info

[snIPer]

Does anyone have a list which states the minimum qualifying score (.22LR OS 50 meter 3P) for an Aspiring shooter - I found a list on the NRAI website but its for big bore.
Thanks
/S

[jashwantsinh]

for this, you better contact the State Rifle Association or the authority conducts Rifle Shooting competition in the state where you live, For you information the qualifying score changes every year in the State. Or you might get some related information on the NRAI website please refer.

Thanks

[snIPer]

Will do, Thank you.
/S