The Centre is actively considering issuing arms licences in bulk to private security firms to enable them to have more armed personnel on their rolls. The November 26-29 terrorist attacks in Mumbai exposed the yawning gap between demand and supply of armed private security personnel in the country.

The home ministry is learnt to be working on the modalities of a “corporate arms licence” arrangement whereby private security agencies will be allotted arms licences in bulk, to be used by turn by personnel employed by them. The ministry has sought the views of state governments, and is considering amendments to the Arms Act, sources said.

The bulk licensees will be responsible for their issual to employees trained in the use of weapons — ex-servicemen to begin with. The agencies will be allowed to buy weapons of their choice, and store them in safe armouries.

According to industry estimates, less than 10 per cent of India’s 55 lakh private security personnel carry arms. A major private security agency like G4S has only around 5,000 armed guards in a workforce of 1.15 lakh; just about 10 per cent of the 6,000-odd guards employed by 24-Secure, another large firm, are armed.

Currently, private security agencies can employ armed guards only if they have their own arms licences and weapons. “After the Mumbai attacks, we raised this matter with (the then) Home Minister Shivraj Patil. The ministry has so far been very positive about the idea and we expect some decision will be taken soon,” said Col (retd) Jagat Trikha of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI).