The revised procedure for (i) import of weapons and ammunition by renowned shooters; and (ii) guidelines for resale of used weapons by renowned shooters are as under:

a)                  NOC for import Licence and Custom Duty Exemption Certificate:

            The present practice of routing import license applications through MYAS may be dispensed with a renowned shooters may be allowed to approach the Regional Authority of DGFT directly after obtaining the recommendations of NRAI.

b)       Custom Duty Exemption:

            The present practice of MYAS issuing ‘Custom Duty Exemption Certificate’ may be dispensed with and a suitable provision may be made for automatic grant of custom duty exemption on the basis of self-certification by the renowned shooter along with the documentary evidence in respect of import of weapons/ammunition.

c)       Ceiling on quantity import of ammunition by renowned shooter:

            As some renowned shooters may participate in two or more events, higher quota for import of ammunition with custom duty exemption may be provided as under:-

d)       The number of weapons on which custom duty exemption can be availed:

            Renowned Shooters may be allowed to avail of Custom Duty exemption    for only five weapons, at any point of time.  In case, he holds more than five weapons, on which he has availed Custom Duty Exemption, the limit imposed thereafter of five weapons, will exclude the weapons that have completed the minimum usage time prescribed in the import licence.  As such, import of weapons beyond the limit of five weapons shall not be eligible for Custom Duty Exemption. Further the overall ceiling imposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs on holding of weapons will apply.

e)         Disposal of weapons by renowned shooter :

            The present practice of prior approval may be dispensed with, and the Renowned Shooter may be allowed, to sell the weapons once he/she meets the minimum duration of use condition i.e. 5 years in the case of Renowned Shooter, and 3 years in the case of a Shooter who qualifies as a Renowned Shooter, for three consecutive years.  The Renowned Shooter may be allowed to sell the weapons to any shooter, who is a valid license holder, an registered with District/State/National Rifle Association.

f)         Filing of Returns :

            Every ‘Renowned Shooter’ having weapons and ammunitions, shall submit an Annual Return, in the prescribed format, to Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)

g)         NRAI shall submit a quarterly statement in the prescribed format, on the recommendations made during the quarter and cumulative recommendations made during the calendar year to Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

            The Ministry has examined this issue after receipt of  representations from the  renowned Shooters  that the existing procedure for import of arms and ammunition is very time consuming and causes escalation of cost of import, as well as shortages of weapons/ammunition and thereby, adversely affect the training and practice regime. Furthermore, the guidelines for resale of weapons imported by Renowned Shooters is unduly restrictive and hampers the development of sports.

            At present, the Departments/Agencies involved in the process of granting permission for import of weapons and ammunition and resale of used weapons by renowned shooters are

 National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) , Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYA&S), Director General Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).