The Arms Act, which regulates the acquisition, possession and sale of firearms in India, was passed in:

The Arms Act was passed by Parliament in 1959 to consolidate and amend the law relating to arms and ammunition, in order to curb illegal weapons and violence.

Background:

• Before 1959, a colonial-era Indian Arms Act governed firearms in India.
• That Act was passed by the British after the Revolt of 1857 to disarm Indians, and it was seen as discriminatory.
• After independence, a new law was needed.

Main provisions of the Arms Act, 1959:

• No person can acquire, possess or carry any firearm or ammunition without a licence.
• Licences are issued by the licensing authority, usually the District Magistrate or the police commissioner.
• Licences are given for purposes such as self-protection, sports or crop protection.
• Some categories of weapons, called prohibited arms, can be possessed only with special permission from the Central Government.
• Manufacture, sale and repair of arms also need licences.
• Licences can be refused to persons with criminal records, those of unsound mind and those below the minimum age.

Arms Rules:

The Arms Rules, 2016 lay down detailed procedures for licences.

Amendment of 2019:

• The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 reduced the number of firearms an individual can own from three to two.
• It increased punishments for offences such as illegal manufacture and celebratory gunfire.
• It introduced new offences for illegal trafficking of firearms.

Punishment:

• Possession of unlicensed firearms is punishable with imprisonment.
• Use of prohibited arms can lead to imprisonment for life.

Related laws:

• The Explosives Act, 1884 and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 regulate explosives.
• The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act deals with weapons used in terrorism.

Why not the other options?

• ✗1947, 1962 and 1971 do not match the year of the Arms Act.