Overview of PSARA License

The ever-expanding business landscape in India has escalated the requirement of private security. From banks to lavish restaurants, car showrooms to highly-advanced factories, everyone seeks adequate protection to keep criminal elements out of the equation or to ensure proper upkeep of their fences.  This growing safety concern has led to the birth of the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 (PSARA). The said Act offers the leverage of establishing a legalized private security agency in India. Besides, this Act governs every aspect of private security agencies in India, be it securing registration or hiring candidates for security services.

Fundamental Role of Private Security Agency in India

Private security agencies refer to a business entity that facilitates security services to businesses from different verticals. PSARA Act, 2005 came into effect to underpin a certain standard of professionalism in the regime of security services. PSARA license serves as a fundamental mandate for security agencies in India. Apart from facilitating security services, the security agencies offer adequate training to selected candidates for their security-centric careers.

Eligibility Criteria for Obtaining PSARA License in India

1: In terms of the type of business organization

The following business structures can apply for PSARA license

• Sole Proprietorship,
• One Person Company (OPC),
• Partnership Firm,
• LLP,
• Association of Persons, and
• Private Limited Company.

2: In terms of the role of a Director/Principal Officer

The PSARA Act has underpinned specific criteria for individuals intending to serve the position of Director/Principal Officer;

• Individual must be an Indian national
• An individual should not be minor as far as age is concerned.
• Individual must have ample financial resources to cater to business expenses.
• Individual must have crime-free track records.

3: In terms of the role of a Security Guard

Individuals intending to become security guards must fulfill the given conditions:

• The person should be an Indian national.
• The person should not be a minor and neither over 65 years of age.
• The person ought to behave adequate training
• The person must have a seamless service track record without any termination
• The person should match the desired physical attributes.
• The person must secure character certificate from a previous firm

Documents Necessary for Obtaining a PSARA License

• PAN
• GSTIN
• Provident Fund Registration
• ESIC ( i.e. Employees State Insurance Corporation) Registration
• Registration under Shops and Commercial Establishments Act
• Registration under the Labour Act
• Proof relating to the identity of the directors as well as employees
• Copies of the IT returns of the Directors
• Two passport size photos and PANs of the promoters
• Proof relating to the address of the Agency Office
• Affidavit as u/s 7 (2) of PSARA, 2005
• Security training affidavit
• Certificate of Incorporation (COI)
• Signed Memorandum of Understanding i.e. MOU with the authority-recommended training institute

Instructions for Securing PSARA License in India

Follow the below-mentioned steps for obtaining PSARA license in India: 

Step 1: Arrange the applicable documents

The documents necessary for the application have to be collected and sorted accordingly to ensure quick and smooth processing of the application, which will, in turn, speed up the process of obtaining the license.

The documents related to the various registration and details of the directors and promoters have to be legit and in an acceptable format to avert any discrepancy.

Once the required documents are arranged, the application can be filed electronically on the official portal. The presence of the digital signature makes the registration process seamless and hassle-free

Step 2: Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with a certified training institute

The applicant must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a certified training institute. The list of the eligible institute is available on the government official portal. These institutes shall provide the required training to the selected candidates. Ex-servicemen have access to a certain degree of relaxation concerning the training aspects of the agency.

Step 3: File the standard application

Once all the above steps are fulfilled, the applicant must file the application (Form-I) with the respective state authority. The said form must be attested with Form-II (application for verification of antecedents). Affidavit in Form-III must be accompanied by Form-I.

Step 4: Complete formalities regarding Police verification

In this step, the applicant is required to file form-I to initiate the Police verification. Where the agency is a company or a partnership, the proposed directors shall undergo Police verification without any exception.

Step 5: Grant of PSARA License

Where the application is attested with the NOC from the police after verification, the respective authority will scrutinize the same and then proceed to either accord the license in form-IV or reject the same in case of default.

Note: Authority usually takes around 60 days to grant this license from the date of application submission. Following are the parameters that affect the timeline of granting the license

• Quantum of paperwork compliance level
• Type of license
• Appointment of Supervisors

Applicants must appoint the supervisors to stay in line with the provisions of the PSARA, 2005. The supervisors are obligated to administer the agency's operation in relation to the work of the security guards. The supervisors so appointed must have at least three years of experience in the defence services.

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Frequently Asked Questions