Key Requirements for PSARA License: A complete guide

Navigating the PSARA License application process feels like a maze of rules and requirements. This blog is your one stop guide to understand PSARA License eligibility, deciphering the criteria, and mastering the online registration process.

PSARA ensures professionalism and public safety by setting clear standards for who can operate and how. Let's decode the criteria and unravel the online process.

Private Security Agencies License can be obtained by any private security entity or by an individual in India. However, there are certain eligibility criterias mentioned in the PSARA Act. In case, if the applicant owns an agency its directors and principal officers must fulfill a set of conditions for the license to be successfully obtained.

Let’s discuss these criterias one by one:

Eligibility for Applicant Agency

1. An agency can apply for a PSARA License if it falls under any of the below given category:-

• Private Limited Companies
• Limited Liability Partnerships(LLP)
• One-Person Companies(OPC)
• Sole Proprietorships
• Partnership Firms

2. As per the guidelines set by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), it's important to choose a name for the security agency that doesn't imply any government patronage.

3. The name should include words like 'Security Services', 'Security Agency', and so forth to clearly indicate the nature of its business activity.

4. In regards to the directors or principal officers of the agencies, they must be Indian citizens, if there is an agency then it should be incorporated in India. No business incorporated in foreign can operate their security services in India.

5. The private agency must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a training institute recognized by the jurisdictional Controlling Authority. The institute is responsible for providing training to the Guards, Supervisors, and the Staff of the agency and facilitating its compliance with the standards for quality security services as mandated by the PSARA Act.

1. The PSARA License can be obtained by any Indian citizen
2. The Owner or Principal Officers of the agency must obtain a Special Qualification Certificate indicating their training and experience in the field from a renowned Training Institute.
3. When applying for the PSARA license, the Controlling Authority must verify the certificate of each of these owners and principal officers.
4. The Director or the officer must be above the age of 18 in order to apply for the license.

Also, the applicant cannot obtain a license, if they fall under any of these categories:

1. Acquitted of an offense related to the promotion, formation, or management of a business entity.
2. Found guilty of an offense that will result in a prison sentence of not less than two years
3. The individual is involved with any organization or association that is prohibited by law or has engaged in activities that pose a threat to national security or public order.
4. The Government removed or dismissed the individual due to their misconduct or moral turpitude.

1. Private security agencies cannot employ or engage anyone as a private security guard unless:-

• A citizen of India or any other country that the Central Government may specify through notification in the Official Gazette.
• The person between the age of 18 to 65 years.
• Has completed the prescribed security training successfully.
• Provides the agency with information about his character and antecedents in a manner that is specified.
• Fulfills other conditions as may be prescribed.

2. There are no individuals who have been convicted by a competent court or dismissed or removed for misconduct or moral turpitude while serving in any of the armed forces of the Union, State Police Organisations, Central or State Governments or in any private security agency shall be employed or engaged as a private security guard or a supervisor.

3. Every private security agency while employing a private security guard gives preference to a person who served as a member in one or more of the following, namely:-

• Army
• Navy
• Air Force
• Any other armed forces of the Union
• Police, including armed constabularies of state
• Home Guards

1. A person is eligible for being engaged or employed as a security guard only if he fulfills the standards of physical fitness as specified below:-

• As per the standard table, the height of male security guard should be 160 cm, and for a female it's 150 cm. Weight should be according to the table, with chest measurement in males is 80 cm with expansion of 4 cm.
• Eye sight: Far vision should be 6/6 and Near vision should be 0.6/0.6 with or without correction. The person should be free from color blindness and be able to identify the colors and numerals.
• It is necessary to have no hearing problems, so that they could respond to the alarms and spoken voices.
• Free from knock knees and Flat feet.
• The candidate must possess both dexterity and strength to conduct searches, handle objects, and use force to restrain individuals. (if necessary).

2. The candidate should be free from evidence of any contagious or infectious disease. He/She should not be suffering from any disease which is likely to be aggravated by service or is likely to render him unfit for the service or endanger the health of the public.

3. Every private security agency while employing a private security guard gives preference to a person who served as a member in one or more of the following, namely:-

1. The Controlling Authority shall frame the detailed training syllabus required for training of security guards suggested under PSARA Act. This training shall be for a minimum period of hundred hours of classroom instruction and sixty hours of field training, spread over at least 20 working days. Ex-service and former police personnel will only be obligated to take a short course that consists of a minimum of forty hours of classroom instruction and sixteen hours of field training, all over the course of at least seven working days.

2.The training includes the following:-

• Physical fitness training
• Physical security, security assets, security of building or apartment, personnel security, household security.
• Fire Fighting
• Crowd Control
• Analyzing identification documents, which include ID cards, passports, and smart cards.
• Identification of improvised explosive devices.
• First - aid.
• Crisis response and disaster management
• First - aid.
• Crisis response and disaster management
• Handling and operations of non-prohibited weapons and fire alarms (optional)
• Police and military forces display badges of rank
• Leadership and management. (for supervisors only)

3. Successful completion of the training prescribed by the component authority is required for security guards. Each trainee will receive a certificate from the training institute or organization upon completion.

4. The component authority will either inspect the operation of the training facility by itself or through its own officers periodically. Usually, this inspection will take place at least twice a year.

5. All agencies shall submit a list of successful trainees to the Controlling Authority in the manner prescribed by it.

Private security guards must wear uniforms that are unique and not similar to those worn by personnel in the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Full Uniform of the security guard employed by a PSARA Licensed agency includes shirts, trousers, belt, tie, cap, shoes, lanyard, ID card and Badge, etc. Here are few specifications:

• Arm badge to distinguish it from other agencies
• Shoulder or Chest badge to indicate the position of the guard in organization.
• Rubber sole shoes with eyelets and laces.
• Attaching the whistle to the whistle cord (lanyard) and keeping it in the left pocket of the shirt is recommended.
• The private security agency's cap has the distinguishing mark
• Every guard shall carry a notebook and writing instruments with him.

The Guard’s Identity Card must contain the following details

• Name of the employee.
• Designation of the employee.
• Employee Number.
• Blood Group.
• Date of issuance.
• Validity.
• Duration.
• Signature of Employer and Employee (both).