Security Guard License in Gujarat: What Guards and Agencies Actually Need

Is there a separate security guard license in Gujarat?

The Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 regulates the business of private security agencies. An agency that supplies private security guards must operate under the licence required by the Act. A person working as a private security guard, however, has a different compliance path: the person must satisfy the statutory eligibility requirements, complete the applicable verification and training, meet prescribed physical standards and carry the photo identity card issued through the employing agency.

This distinction matters because an agency owner cannot simply recruit a person, issue a uniform and deploy that person to a factory, office, residential society or commercial establishment. Guard-level compliance forms part of the agency’s continuing PSARA responsibilities.

In everyday searches, “security guard license” is therefore often used as shorthand for the documents and approvals required before a person can be properly engaged and deployed as a private security guard.

Which PSARA rules apply in Gujarat in 2026?

Gujarat now has the Gujarat Private Security Agencies (Regulations) Rules, 2024. The Government of Gujarat notified these rules under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, and the 2024 rules superseded the earlier Gujarat Private Security Agencies Rules, 2007, subject to the saving provisions for earlier actions.

Basic eligibility to work as a private security guard

Section 10 of the PSARA Act sets the basic legal framework for employing a private security guard. Among other requirements, the person must have completed 18 years of age and must not have attained 65 years. The Act also contains a citizenship requirement, subject to any country that may be specified by the Central Government through notification.

The person must satisfy the agency regarding character and antecedents, successfully complete the prescribed security training and fulfil the applicable physical standards.

The Act also restricts employment where a person has been convicted by a competent court, or has been dismissed or removed on grounds of misconduct or moral turpitude while serving in specified government, police, armed-force or private-security employment.

An agency should therefore complete eligibility checks before treating a candidate as deployment-ready. A basic CV, Aadhaar copy or previous security experience by itself does not establish PSARA compliance.

Character and antecedent verification in Gujarat

Rule 12 of the Gujarat 2024 Rules deals specifically with verification of private security guards and supervisors. Before employing or engaging a person, the agency must satisfy itself about that person’s character and antecedents through the prescribed process.

A person seeking employment as a guard or supervisor is required to submit Form VII to the agency. Where the person has stayed in more than one district during the previous five years, forms are required for the relevant districts. The agency is also responsible for checking the information and forwarding the prescribed material to the appropriate police authority.

The Gujarat rules state that an application for antecedent verification in Form VII is accompanied by a ₹500 demand draft or banker’s cheque payable to the Controlling Authority. The rules further state that police authorities should ensure that the report is issued within fifteen days after receipt of the character and antecedent form. That is a statutory process requirement, not a promise that every real-world case will finish on an exact date.

Security guard training requirements in Gujarat

A guard must successfully complete the training prescribed by the Controlling Authority. Gujarat’s 2024 framework also distinguishes between industrial and residential security guards when specifying the training and fitness standards.

Training covers practical areas such as correct conduct and uniform, physical security, fire-fighting, crowd control, checking identification documents, first aid, crisis response, security equipment and other prescribed subjects. After successful completion, the training institute or organisation awards the prescribed training certificate in Form IX.

A training certificate is an important guard record, but it should not be confused with the PSARA licence issued to the security agency.

Physical fitness standards for guards

Gujarat’s current rules prescribe physical standards for industrial and residential security guards. The stated minimum height is 160 cm for male candidates and 150 cm for female candidates. The rules also contain standards relating to weight, eyesight, hearing, running ability, strength and general medical fitness.

The detailed running requirements vary by category and, for residential guards, by age group. The rules also require medical examination on a twelve-month cycle. Agencies should therefore maintain fitness and medical records rather than checking physical eligibility only on the candidate’s first day.

For deployment planning, it is sensible to check the exact Rule 22 table against the person’s proposed role instead of relying on an old generic fitness checklist.

Does the guard receive an identity card?

Yes. Under the Gujarat Rules, the private security agency issues the prescribed photo identity card in Form V. It should include the guard’s full-face colour photograph, full name, agency name, identification number, position in the agency and validity details.

While performing active security duty, the guard must wear and display the photo identity card conspicuously on the outermost garment above waist level. If the guard stops working for that agency, the identity card is to be returned to the issuing agency.

Practical security guard onboarding checklist for an agency

Before deploying a newly recruited guard in Ahmedabad or elsewhere in Gujarat, an agency should build a file that allows it to demonstrate how the person became eligible for deployment.

• Confirm age and basic statutory eligibility.
• Collect the prescribed character and antecedent Form VII.
• Complete the required antecedent and police-verification process.
• Record the applicable training and Form IX certificate.
• Check the physical and medical standards for the role.
• Enter the employee details in the agency’s required records.
• Issue the prescribed agency photo identity card.
• Confirm uniform and on-duty identification requirements.

Common mistakes to avoid

One common mistake is telling a candidate to “get a PSARA licence” personally. The PSARA business licence belongs to the private security agency; the guard follows the employment, verification, training and identity-card framework.

Another mistake is using an old Gujarat checklist based on the 2007 rules. The Gujarat Private Security Agencies (Regulations) Rules, 2024 now provide the relevant state framework. This is particularly important for antecedent-verification validity and the current training standards.

Agencies should also avoid deploying a candidate first and completing the records later. Verification, eligibility and training are compliance matters, not simply HR paperwork. Finally, an agency identity card should not be presented as a government-issued personal security guard licence.