New Delhi, Feb 9 (PTI) The government today allowed specified sports persons and bodies to import arms and ammunition freely, without any licence. "The Sports Secretary has requested for this. This move aims at simplification of import procedure for sports persons and bodies," Director General of Foreign Trade Anup K Pujari told PTI. "The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) can freely import arms and ammunition for their own use or their affiliates," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. Renowned shooters can freely import arms and ammunition individually for their own use, it added. However, it said that this notification does not exempt the specified sports persons/sports bodies from the Arms Act, 1959 or Rules and merely making amendments in the import policy regime for the specified categories of importers. Earlier, imports of arms were permitted against a licence to renowned shooters/rifle clubs for their own use on recommendations of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.
