What is PSARA License in India?

PSARA License is a mandatory document for those who are running private security agencies. Also called the Private Security Agency License, it’s governed under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Without this license, the private security agency cannot operate. If they do, they would have to face being penalized by the ministry

Business ventures have increased their number of establishments, and thus, the need for personnel to secure them has also increased. However, there is a disparity. While there are many establishments that need security, they are not many who can provide it. Answering to this disparity, Honourable Home Minister Amit Shah launched the PSARA or Private Security Agencies Bill via which anyone who wants to start a security company can get the PSARA License.

What is PSARA?

PSARA is short for Private Security Agency Regulation Act. It’s an act that was introduced in 2018 with two goals in mind:

To ensure that the current security agencies engage in ethical business practices.; and
Provide a platform for new Private Security Agencies to arrive.

The result of the act was the mandatory requirement of the PSARA license. Controlled and overseen by the states, the applicant has to reach out to their respective states to get the PSARA License.

Eligibility Criteria for PSARA License in India

To get the PSARA License, you need to adhere to the following eligibility criteria:

The applicant must be an Indian resident
The applicant must be financially strong to be able to afford the operative costs.
There shouldn’t be any criminal record against the applicant.
The applicant can either be a private limited company, LLP, One Person Company, Sole Proprietorship, Partnership Firm.

There is another eligibility criteria related to the private security guard that works at the Private Security agencies. They are as follows:

The applicant must be an Indian resident
The applicant must not be older than 65 years of younger than 18 years of age.
The applicant must have gone through mandatory security training
The applicant shouldn’t have been involuntarily terminated from any government service.

Documents Required for PSARA License in India

Following are the documents required to obtain the PSARA License:

Certificate of incorporation / LLP agreement / partnership Agreement
Signed Memorandum of Association
ID proof of the security guards you’re employing
ID proof of the directors and shareholders of your security agency
PSARA affidavit
Logo of the agency
PAN details
Affidavit of the security training received by PSARA
Promoter’s photographs
IT returns of all the directors
Character certificate of all the employees.

Process of obtaining the PSARA License in India

Training of the officials: First, the applicant must undergo specific training provided by PSARA.
Accumulation and organization of the documents: In this step, all the necessary documents are accumulated and certified by the right official.
Filing the PSARA License application: In this step, the application is filed by to the applicant to the regional PSARA body.
Assessment of the application: Once it receives the application, the regional PSARA body will assess your application.
Grant of License: If the assessment satisfies the regional PSARA body, you get the PSARA License.