PSARA Licence — Starting a Private Security Agency in Delhi, UP, Haryana or Bihar
Quick answer: A private security agency cannot operate without a licence from the state's Controlling Authority under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005. The fee is ₹5,000 for one district, ₹10,000 for up to five districts and ₹25,000 for the whole state; the application needs an MOU with a recognised training institute, police verification of the owners, and is decided within 60 days. The licence (Form VI) runs five years and is renewed at least 45 days before expiry. Each state is a separate licence — a Delhi licence does not cover Gurugram or Noida.
Last verified 4 October 2026 — rules on this page checked against the current notifications. We update it the day a rule changes.
Fee, validity and timeline — the statutory numbers
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Licence fee | ₹5,000 — one district · ₹10,000 — more than one and up to five districts · ₹25,000 — whole state (Karnataka differs) |
| Validity | 5 years from grant (one year in a few states such as Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh); renew at least 45 days before expiry |
| Decision time | Controlling Authority decides within 60 days of a complete application; police antecedent verification is the pacing step |
| Licence form | Form VI; application on psara.gov.in (state module) |
| Territorial scope | State-wise — separate licences for Delhi, UP, Haryana and Bihar |
What the Controlling Authority checks
- Entity and people: company/LLP/firm with Indian principals; clean antecedents of directors and key managers verified through the police; financial standing (ITRs)
- Training MOU: a Memorandum of Understanding with a security training institute recognised by that state's Controlling Authority — the recognised list is on the PSARA portal; guards and supervisors must be trained before deployment, with certificates on file
- Preference for ex-servicemen: agencies are expected to give priority to ex-defence personnel with at least three years' service
- Labour stack: EPF/ESIC, Shop Act, uniform and ID rules, wage compliance — inspected alongside the licence
Authority by state
| State | Controlling Authority | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Officer notified by GNCTD (Home Department) under the Act, not below Joint Secretary rank | "Whole state" = whole NCT; districts counted as Delhi's revenue districts |
| Uttar Pradesh (Noida, Ghaziabad) | UP Home Department's Controlling Authority | Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad are two districts — ₹10,000 band |
| Haryana (Gurugram, Faridabad) | Haryana Home Department's Controlling Authority | Gurugram + Faridabad = two districts |
| Bihar (Patna) | Bihar Home Department's Controlling Authority | Patna-only agencies at ₹5,000 |
The Act requires each state to notify an officer not below Joint Secretary as Controlling Authority; the exact designation is confirmed on that state's PSARA portal module at filing.
What we do
- Entity set-up (company/LLP), training-institute MOU, antecedent documentation and the state application
- Follow-up through police verification; replies to Controlling Authority queries; renewals calendared 45 days ahead
- Multi-state expansion (Delhi → Haryana → UP) as separate licences; GeM registration for security-services bids, which require the PSARA number
Client: A Faridabad facility-management firm adding guarding services for Gurugram and Faridabad clients.
Situation: Had a Delhi PSARA licence and assumed it covered Haryana; a client's audit flagged the gap.
Approach: Filed a Haryana application for two districts (₹10,000) with a Haryana-recognised training institute MOU and the directors' verification; sequenced ESIC/EPF for the guards.
Outcome: Haryana licence granted within the 60-day window; the Delhi licence renewal calendared.
Client identity and certain details have been changed or withheld to protect confidentiality. Outcomes depend on individual facts and are not a guarantee of results.
Talk to us before you file anything
Frequently asked questions
How much does a PSARA licence cost?
₹5,000 for one district, ₹10,000 for more than one and up to five districts, ₹25,000 for the whole state — per state. Professional, training and verification costs are extra.
How long is a PSARA licence valid?
Five years from grant in most states (one year in a few, such as Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh). Apply for renewal at least 45 days before expiry.
Is a Delhi PSARA licence valid in Gurugram or Noida?
No. Licences are state-wise — Haryana and Uttar Pradesh need their own applications to their own Controlling Authorities.
Is training mandatory for security guards under PSARA?
Yes. The agency must have an MOU with a training institute recognised by the state Controlling Authority, and guards and supervisors must hold training certificates before deployment.
How long does the licence take?
The Controlling Authority is to decide within 60 days of a complete application; police antecedent verification of the directors is what usually sets the pace.
Can a proprietorship get a PSARA licence?
The Act licenses a 'person', so firms and proprietors can apply, but clients, GeM and large contracts expect a company or LLP; most agencies incorporate first.
Do I need PSARA to bid for security contracts on GeM?
Yes — the PSARA licence number for the state of deployment is a standard requirement in government security-service bids.
What happens if I operate without a licence?
It is an offence under the Act punishable with imprisonment and fine, and the Controlling Authority can bar the principals; enforcement actions against unlicensed agencies continued into 2026.