Forensic Ballistics: Arms Act 1959 and BNS Firearms Law
Published:
Questions
30
Duration
30 min
Faculty-reviewed
0
Updated
24 May 2026
About this mock
UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit V drill on the statutory framework around firearms in India at the foundations level. Covers the Arms Act 1959 (the Section 2 definitions of arms, ammunition, firearm, prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition; the licensing framework under Sections 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9; the penalty grid in Sections 25 to 29 including the mandatory minimum for prohibited-arms contraventions under Section 25(1AA); and the consequences of carrying or using a firearm in a proclamation area), the Arms Rules 2016 (the Permissible Bore and Non-Prohibited Bore licence categories, Forms II for manufacture and sale and Form III for personal licence, the 200-round annual ammunition cap and fee structure), the firearm-relevant offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (Section 103 murder, Section 109 attempt to murder, Section 117 grievous hurt by deadly weapon, Section 191(3) rioting armed with deadly weapon, Section 311 dacoity with murder), the Explosive Substances Act 1908 (Sections 3 and 4 on causing explosions and attempt or conspiracy) and the Explosives Act 1884 read alongside it for desi-katta and improvised devices, and the BNSS 2023 procedural classification of these offences as cognisable, non-bailable and sessions-triable along with the FIR requirement under Section 175 BNSS 2023 (formerly Section 154 CrPC 1973). Easy-band questions calibrated for first-pass UGC-NET preparation and quick concept refresh.
Targeted at MSc and BSc Forensic Science students preparing for UGC-NET Paper II, NFSU MSc Forensic Ballistics entrance, and FACT legal modules, the mock is also a quick refresher for working investigators who handle firearm seizures.
Topics covered:
- Arms Act 1959 Section 2 definitions (arms, ammunition, firearm, prohibited arms)
- Licensing under Sections 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 of the Arms Act 1959
- Penalty grid in Sections 25 to 29 of the Arms Act 1959
- Arms Rules 2016 (PB and NPB licence categories, Forms II and III, fees)
- BNS 2023 firearm-relevant offences (Sections 103, 109, 117, 191, 311)
- Explosive Substances Act 1908 and Explosives Act 1884 overlap
- BNSS 2023 procedural classification (cognisable, bailable, sessions-triable)
- BNSS 2023 Section 175 FIR for firearm offences (formerly Section 154 CrPC)
Useful for self-assessment before a deeper Unit V revision push. Allow 30 minutes.
Sources & references
Questions in this mock are written and verified against the following sources. Citations are recorded per question and shown in the explanation after submission.
- cited in 3 questions
The Arms Rules, 2016
Schedule I categorisation of Prohibited and Non-Prohibited Bore calibres; Ministry of Home Affairs, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 2(1)(j)
Definition of "prohibited ammunition"; Bare Act, Ministry of Law and Justice, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 26
Secret contraventions and lesser breaches; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Rules, 2016, read with the Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019
Annual ammunition cap of 200 rounds per firearm per year and the two-firearms ceiling; Ministry of Home Affairs, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 4
Licence for acquisition and carrying of arms other than firearms; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023), Section 191(3)
Rioting armed with deadly weapon; formerly Section 148 IPC 1860; indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 2(1)(i)
Definition of "prohibited arms"; Bare Act, Ministry of Law and Justice, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 5
Licence for manufacture, sale, repair, test and proof of firearms; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023), Section 117
Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means; formerly Section 326 IPC 1860; indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Explosive Substances Act, 1908 (Act 6 of 1908), Section 4
Attempt to cause explosion, and making or keeping explosive with intent; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023), Section 109
Attempt to murder; formerly Section 307 IPC 1860; Bare Act, Ministry of Law and Justice, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Sections 28 and 29
Punishment for use of arms in proclaimed area, and for purchase from unlicensed person; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 3
Licence for acquisition and possession of firearms and ammunition; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023), First Schedule
Classification of offences under Arms Act 1959; formerly the First Schedule of CrPC 1973; indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 27; State of Punjab v Dalbir Singh (2012) 3 SCC 346
Punishment for use of arms or ammunition; striking down of mandatory death sub-section, indiankanoon.org
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023), Section 311
Dacoity with murder; formerly Section 396 IPC 1860; indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023), Section 175
First Information Report for cognisable cases; formerly Section 154 CrPC 1973; indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 9
Persons prohibited from acquiring, possessing or carrying firearms; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 7
Prohibition of acquisition or possession of prohibited arms or ammunition; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
Sharma, B.R. — Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, 5th Edition, Universal Law Publishing
Chapter on Firearms and Explosives: charging practice for country-made firearms and IEDs
- cited in 1 question
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023), First Schedule, Part II
Default bailable / non-bailable rule for offences not in the IPC / BNS, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023), Section 103
Punishment for murder; formerly Section 302 IPC 1860; indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 2(1)(b)
Definition of "ammunition"; Bare Act, Ministry of Law and Justice, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 25(1AA)
Mandatory minimum punishment for prohibited arms; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Explosive Substances Act, 1908 (Act 6 of 1908), Section 3
Punishment for causing explosion likely to endanger life or property; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 25
Punishment for contravention of Sections 3, 5 and 7; Bare Act, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 2(1)(c)
Definition of "arms"; Bare Act, Ministry of Law and Justice, indiacode.nic.in
Open source - cited in 1 question
The Arms Act, 1959 (Act 54 of 1959), Section 2(1)(e)
Definition of "firearm"; Bare Act, Ministry of Law and Justice, indiacode.nic.in
Open source
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Questions are written and edited by the ForensicSpot team and cited from peer-reviewed forensic textbooks, official syllabi and primary case law. Each one is verified before publishing. Detailed explanations show after you submit, so the test stays a real test. See a mistake? Tell us.
Common questions
What does the Forensic Ballistics: Arms Act 1959 and BNS Firearms Law mock cover?+
UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit V drill on the statutory framework around firearms in India at the foundations level. Covers the Arms Act 1959 (the Section 2 definitions of arms, ammunition, firearm, prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition; the licensing framework under Sections 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9; the penalty grid in Sections 25 to 29 including the mandatory minimum for prohibited-arms contraventions under Section 25(1AA); and the consequences of carrying or using a firearm in a proclamation area
How many questions and how long is the test?+
30 multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes total. Difficulty: easy. Tier: Premium.
Who is this mock for?+
Forensic science students and aspirants who want timed, exam-style practice with explanations and verified source citations on Forensic Ballistics, NET. Useful for postgraduate entrance preparation and for BSc / MSc forensic students testing their recall under time.
Are the questions reviewed?+
Each question carries a verified source citation. Faculty review for individual questions is in progress.
Do I need an account to take this mock?+
Yes, a free ForensicSpot account is required to start a timed attempt — this lets you save progress, see per-question explanations after submission, and track your topic-level performance over time.