Over 30 LAKH Gun Licenses In India: Top 10 States with the Highest Number of Firearms

India maintains strict controls on civilian firearms under the Arms Act, 1959 and its subsequent rules. Gun licenses remain difficult to obtain and are issued only for specific reasons such as self-defence, sports shooting, or crop protection.There is no fresh nationwide data for 2024 or 2025 from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) or the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The most recent comprehensive figures date back to 2016–17, with partial updates available through RTI responses and state-level disclosures up to 2023.Based on older official data and limited recent updates, the total number of active arms licenses in India is estimated at around 33–40 lakh. Northern states and Union Territories dominate the list, driven by population

size, historical security issues, and cultural factors.Below are the top 10 states/UTs by number of gun licenses, based on the most recent reliable sources (2016 MHA data, adjusted using RTI replies and state reports up to 2023). Figures are approximate and likely higher today due to renewals and limited new issuances.

• Uttar Pradesh – Over 13 lakh licenses (about 12.77 lakh in 2016; roughly 13.29 lakh as per 2023 reports). Large population and self-defence claims are key factors.
• Jammu & Kashmir (UT) – Around 4–5 lakh (3.69 lakh in 2016, with additions after 2018), largely due to security concerns.
• Punjab – About 3.46–3.6 lakh licenses (3.59 lakh in 2016; recent figures suggest ~3.46 lakh license holders owning over 4.3 lakh weapons). Historical militancy and cultural factors contribute.
• Madhya Pradesh – Roughly 2.5 lakh (2.47 lakh in 2016; similar levels reported in 2019).
• Haryana – Around 1.4–1.5 lakh (1.42 lakh in 2016).
• Rajasthan – About 1.3–1.4 lakh (1.34 lakh in 2016).
• Himachal Pradesh – Over 77,000, with high per-capita ownership linked to rural and wildlife-related needs.
• Maharashtra – Approximately 84,000 to 1 lakh licenses.
• Karnataka – Around 1.1–1.2 lakh, the highest among southern states.
• Other contenders – States like Manipur, Nagaland, and Bihar do not rank as high in absolute numbers but show elevated per-capita ownership, especially in parts of the Northeast.

Per-capita ownership leaders differ from total counts. Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and several northeastern states such as Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh rank high due to security issues or long-standing traditions.Southern India continues to lag in civilian gun ownership. Combined, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana had fewer than 2 lakh licenses in total in earlier data sets.Significant increases are unlikely in the near term, as several states have slowed or halted the issuance of new licenses to curb misuse and rising gun culture. Since no official 2025 nationwide update exists, actual figures may vary due to renewals, cancellations, or administrative changes.Overall, civilian gun ownership in India remains low—around 5 firearms per 100 people—well below global averages, reflecting the country’s restrictive licensing framework aimed at balancing public safety with limited civilian access.