At present there is no provision in the Arms Act requiring a licensing authority to maintain a comprehensive and complete database of licences issued. "The government is also planning to bring amendments in the Arms Act to include a provision obliging the licensing authority to maintain a database as may be specified and to share the data with the central government which shall maintain a national database with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC)," a senior official said.

The online data base will not only help the government to know the number of arms licences given across the country, it will also help them to check the proliferation of arms and ammunition. In district, the district magistrate gives the licence for non-prohibited bore (NPB) while licences for prohibited bore (PB) weapons is given by the home ministry. "It has been observed that in many districts the number of weapons symbolizes status and many people have taken licences from two or three districts in the same state," explained a senior official.

Home Ministry officials also argued that they will be able to compile the national data for arms licences in next three years as every licence comes for a renewal in three years. MHA has also advised the states to carry out verification of antecedents of the holders by the DM through police authorities (i) in cases where DM or the licensing authority have any doubt, (ii) in other cases after six years i.e. every alternate cycle (iii) in all those cases where the licence has been issued by another licensing authority. The police need to send its report after verification with in 60 days.

During one of the meeting between MHA and the state government officials, it was revealed that there is a large demand for arms by private security agencies for security personnel employed by them. The proposal also aims to develop an identification number which will be in the form of a smart card and will help holders to apply for hassle free renewal online in coming years.