PSARA Security Guard Exam cheat sheet

Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 applies to private security agencies and their guards; it does not cover work done by government security forces.

A private security agency must hold a licence from the Controlling Authority of the State where it operates; operating without a licence is an offence.

Agency licence is granted for 5 years and must be renewed before expiry; renewal application is made to the same Controlling Authority.

Guard eligibility under the Act: Indian citizen, minimum 18 years, and no conviction for an offence involving moral turpitude or a listed offence.

A person with a conviction for a specified offence may be considered only if a stated period has passed since conviction, as provided in the rules.

Every guard must complete preservice training at a recognised training institute before deployment, and refresher training at intervals set by the rules.

The Controlling Authority may cancel or suspend a licence after giving the agency an opportunity of being heard.

Agencies must maintain a register of guards, training records, and deployment details, and produce them on demand to the Controlling Authority.

Supervisory staff and agency management are also subject to character and antecedent verification, not only the guards on duty.

Core duties: protect life and property, control access, observe and report, and assist in emergencies within the limits of the law.

A guard's authority comes from the owner's consent and the law; a guard is not a police officer and has no power of arrest beyond citizen's arrest provisions.

Citizen's arrest: a private person may detain a person committing a non-bailable and cognizable offence in their presence, and must hand the person to police without delay.

Use of force must be necessary and proportionate; force is justified only to prevent imminent harm or to defend self or others.

A guard must not search a person of the opposite sex; such searches are conducted by a person of the same sex in the presence of a witness.

Personal search of a visitor or employee requires consent or lawful authority; refusal is handled by denying entry, not by physical force.

Conduct rules: no sleeping, drinking, gambling or smoking on duty; no leaving the post without relief; no accepting bribes or gifts.

Handover and takeover must be recorded in writing at shift change, including keys, equipment, pending incidents and special instructions.

A guard must report to the supervisor and the client's authorised representative, and must not give statements to the media about incidents.

Defence in depth layers: perimeter, building exterior, interior zones, and high-value assets; each layer should delay, detect and permit response.

Perimeter types by function: deterrent (lighting, signage, fencing), detection (sensors, beams, CCTV analytics), delay (walls, turnstiles, bollards).

Access control principle of least privilege: a person receives only the access needed for the role, for the time needed.

Three-factor authentication categories: something you know (PIN), something you have (card, token), something you are (biometrics); two different categories make MFA.

Tailgating is entry by an unauthorised person following an authorised one; anti-tailgating measures are turnstiles, mantraps, and one-person-at-a-time rules.

Piggybacking is tailgating with the consent or connivance of the authorised person; it is a policy violation and must be reported.

Visitor management steps: verify identity, record purpose and host, issue a visible badge, escort where required, and record exit.

Key control: log every issue and return, use a key register with signature, and prohibit unauthorised duplication of keys.

Lighting standards: perimeter and parking areas need uniform illumination with no dark patches; lighting should not create glare that blinds CCTV.

Fire tetrahedron: fuel, oxygen, heat and the uninhibited chemical chain reaction; removing any one element stops combustion.

Fire classes: A solid combustibles, B flammable liquids, C gases, D metals, E electrical equipment, F cooking oils and fats.

Water is unsuitable for class B (spreads fuel), class C, class E (shock hazard until isolated) and class F (violent boil-over).

PASS for extinguishers: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

CO2 extinguishers suit electrical and flammable liquid fires; the horn becomes extremely cold and must not be gripped with bare hands.

Dry powder (ABC) extinguishers are multi-purpose but leave residue that damages electronics; clean-up follows after the fire is out.

Smoke detectors must not be obstructed; a clearance of at least 18 inches (about 450 mm) is kept below sprinkler heads and detector coverage.

Evacuation priorities: alarm, then evacuation of occupants, then containment, then salvage; never re-enter a building until the fire officer declares it safe.

Fire drill records should note date, time, participants, evacuation time and deficiencies observed, and be retained for inspection.

Adult CPR sequence: check responsiveness and breathing, call emergency services, then 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.

Compression quality: rate 100-120 per minute, depth about 5-6 cm in an adult, full recoil between compressions, minimal interruptions.

Use an AED as soon as available: power on, attach pads to bare chest, follow voice prompts, and do not touch the casualty during analysis or shock.

Choking adult: encourage coughing; if ineffective, give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts, alternating.

Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a clean dressing, add layers without removing soaked ones, and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Recovery position is used for an unresponsive person who is breathing normally, to keep the airway open and allow fluids to drain.

Burns: cool with running water for at least 20 minutes, remove jewellery and loose clothing before swelling, do not burst blisters, do not apply ice.

Fracture immobilisation: support the limb in the position found, immobilise the joints above and below, and check circulation beyond the splint.

Heat stroke signs: hot skin, confusion, collapse; cool the casualty rapidly and call emergency services; it is a medical emergency, not simple exhaustion.

Crowd density risk rises sharply above about 4 persons per square metre; at that density people cannot choose their own movement.

Crowd crushes are caused by density and pressure waves, not by panic alone; the response is to reduce inflow and open outflow routes.

Crowd control barriers must have clearly marked emergency gates that open outward and are never locked while the venue is occupied.

Defensive stance: feet shoulder-width, knees slightly bent, hands up in a non-threatening guard position, maintaining a safe distance.

Distance and cover are the first defences; disengagement and calling for help are preferred over physical confrontation.

Pressure points and joint locks are control techniques used only to escort or restrain, and must stop when resistance stops.

Personal security detail principles: advance route reconnaissance, avoid predictable routines, keep the principal away from windows and open exposure.

Verbal de-escalation sequence: calm tone, acknowledge the person's concern, offer choices, give clear lawful instructions, and allow a face-saving exit.

Report immediately any threat, surveillance, or unusual interest in a protected person, even if it seems minor.

CCTV camera types: dome (discreet, indoor), bullet (long range, obvious), PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom, operator controlled), and fixed (constant field of view).

Camera resolution and lighting matter more than count; identify the purpose (detect, recognise, identify) before selecting a lens and position.

Evidence-grade CCTV needs accurate time synchronisation, a documented retention period, and an unbroken chain of custody for exported footage.

Radio communication: use a callsign, keep transmissions short, say 'over' to hand over and 'out' when finished; never transmit sensitive details in clear text.

Radio coverage dead spots should be mapped and tested; a repeater or alternative channel is planned for basements and remote perimeter areas.

Access control readers: proximity card, biometric, PIN pad and mobile credential; each has different cloning, loss and hygiene risk profiles.

Alarm systems should be zoned so that a triggered zone identifies a location; a silent alarm is used where audible alarms could escalate danger.

Metal detectors and handheld scanners require correct sensitivity settings and a same-sex search policy for body searches.

Log all equipment faults and handovers; a non-functional camera or radio is a security gap and must be escalated, not simply noted.

Report structure: date, time, place, persons involved, what happened in chronological order, action taken, witnesses, and signature of the writer.

Use factual, observable language; write 'the man was shouting' rather than 'the man was angry', which is an opinion.

Record exact times from a synchronised source; note the source of the time if it is a control-room clock or CCTV timestamp.

Never leave blank spaces in a report; draw a line through unused space and initial it to prevent later alteration.

Correct errors with a single line, initial and date; do not overwrite, erase, or use correction fluid on an incident record.

Evidence handling: photograph before moving, note the location found, seal in a labelled bag, and record every transfer in a chain-of-custody form.

Digital evidence: preserve the original device or file, work from a copy, record hash values where available, and log who accessed the footage.

An incident log is contemporaneous; entries are made as events occur and are not rewritten later from memory.

Reports may be produced in court; assume every entry will be read aloud and cross-examined.

Employer duties include a safe workplace, safe equipment, training, supervision, welfare facilities and a written safety policy where required.

Guards must be provided with and use personal protective equipment; PPE is the last line of defence, not a substitute for engineering controls.

Working-hour limits, weekly rest, overtime and leave entitlements are governed by labour law and state rules; records must be maintained.

Wages must be paid at or above the applicable minimum wage, on time, with a wage slip and a record of deductions.

Provident fund and employee state insurance obligations apply to eligible establishments above the prescribed thresholds.

A guard injured on duty must receive first aid and medical treatment, and the incident must be reported and recorded.

Hazard reporting: any guard may report an unsafe condition; retaliation for a good-faith report is prohibited.

Electrical safety: do not touch a casualty in contact with a live source; isolate the supply first or use an insulated object.

Manual handling: assess the load, keep it close to the body, bend the knees, and use team lifting for heavy or awkward loads.

Ethical pillars for a guard: integrity, impartiality, confidentiality, accountability and respect for human dignity.

Confidentiality covers client information, visitor data, CCTV footage and staff movements; disclosure is only to authorised persons or by law.

Impartiality means applying the same rules to visitors, staff and VIPs; favouritism destroys the authority of the post.

Conflict of interest: a guard must not accept gifts, loans or hospitality that could influence decisions, and must declare any personal connection to a visitor.

Customer service sequence: greet, identify the need, explain the rule briefly, offer the lawful alternative, and thank the person.

When refusing entry, criticise the rule or the situation, never the person; give the reason and the escalation route.

Professional appearance: correct uniform, visible ID, clean grooming, and a calm tone; appearance is often the first security control.

A guard must not use a phone for personal calls, sleep, or abandon the post; these are the most common disciplinary failures.

Whistleblowing: report misconduct by colleagues or supervisors through the chain of command or the designated authority, in writing where possible.