Section 7 of the Arms Act, 1959: Prohibited Arms and Prohibited Ammunition
Section 7 of the Arms Act, 1959 prohibits specified dealings with prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition unless the person has been specially authorised by the Central Government.
Text of Section 7 of the Arms Act, 1959
7. Prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale, of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition.
No person shall-
(a) acquire, have in his possession or carry; or
(b) use, manufacture, sell, transfer, convert, repair, test or prove; or
(c) expose or offer for sale or transfer or have in his possession for sale, transfer, conversion, repair, test or proof,
any prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition unless he has been specially authorised by the Central Government in this behalf.
The words "use, manufacture" in clause (b) reflect the substitution made by the Arms (Amendment) Act, 1988 with effect from 27 May 1988.
What Section 7 Prohibits
Section 7 creates a special statutory prohibition for prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition. It covers not only possession but a broad range of activities involving such arms or ammunition.
- acquiring prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition;
- possessing or carrying them;
- using or manufacturing them;
- selling or transferring them;
- converting, repairing, testing or proving them; and
- offering them for sale or transfer, or possessing them for sale, transfer, conversion, repair, test or proof.
These activities are lawful under Section 7 only where the person has been specially authorised by the Central Government for the relevant purpose.
Definition of "Prohibited Arms"
Section 2(1)(i) of the Arms Act defines "prohibited arms". The definition includes:
- firearms designed or adapted so that, when pressure is applied to the trigger, missiles continue to be discharged until the pressure is removed or the magazine is empty;
- weapons designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other such thing;
- artillery, anti-aircraft firearms and anti-tank firearms; and
- such other arms as the Central Government may specify as prohibited arms by notification in the Official Gazette.
The statutory definition is therefore broader than a single type of firearm. It also permits the Central Government to specify additional arms as prohibited arms by Gazette notification.
Definition of "Prohibited Ammunition"
Section 2(1)(h) defines "prohibited ammunition" as ammunition containing, or designed or adapted to contain, any noxious liquid, gas or other such thing. The definition also includes rockets, bombs, grenades, shells, missiles, articles designed for torpedo service and submarine mining, and other articles that the Central Government may specify by notification in the Official Gazette.
Penalties for Contravention of Section 7
The Arms Act provides different punishments depending on the nature of the contravention involving prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition.
| Provision | Conduct | Punishment stated in the Act |
|---|---|---|
| Section 25(1A) | Acquiring, possessing or carrying prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition in contravention of Section 7 | Imprisonment of not less than 5 years, which may extend to 10 years, and fine |
| Section 25(1AA) | Manufacturing, selling, transferring, converting, repairing, testing, proving, offering for sale or transfer, or possessing for those purposes, in contravention of Section 7 | Imprisonment of not less than 7 years, which may extend to imprisonment for life, and fine |
| Section 27(2) | Using prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition in contravention of Section 7 | Imprisonment of not less than 7 years, which may extend to imprisonment for life, and fine |
Important: Section 7 offences carry severe criminal consequences. The applicable provision depends on the precise act alleged, the nature of the arm or ammunition, relevant Gazette notifications, authorisations and other facts. The current statutory text should be checked for a particular case.
Official Legal Sources
Related Arms Act Provisions
For the surrounding statutory scheme, see Section 2 on definitions and interpretation, Section 5 on manufacture and sale of arms and ammunition, Section 6 on shortening and conversion, and Section 8 on identification marks.
Last reviewed: September 7, 2026.