Punjab PSEB Matric NSQF Private Security (Unarmed Guard) cheat sheet

Private security in India is regulated under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 (PSARA); Punjab rules and the Punjab Private Security Agencies Rules govern licensing and guard deployment in the state.

An unarmed guard carries no firearm, baton as weapon, or lethal instrument; authority rests on observation, reporting, deterrence by presence, and lawful citizen powers.

The three core functions of a security post are prevention (deter and deny opportunity), detection (observe and identify), and response (report, alert, assist within lawful limits).

A security agency must hold a PSARA licence; a guard should be able to state the agency name, licence number and controlling authority when asked by an inspector or police officer.

Chain of command runs guard to supervisor/shift in-charge to agency control room to client management; police are informed, not commanded, by private guards.

Private security supplements but never replaces the police; a guard has no power to investigate, detain for punishment, or use force to extract confessions.

Key client expectations are punctuality, correct turnout, alertness, courteous dealing and accurate written records; failure in any one of these is a service defect.

Guard categories in NSQF terms progress from unarmed guard to armed guard, supervisor and security officer; each level carries higher responsibility and training hours.

Core duties: man the post, control entry, verify identity, maintain registers, patrol assigned beats, observe and report incidents, and hand over charge in writing at shift change.

A guard must never sleep, drink alcohol, leave the post without relief, or allow unauthorised persons into restricted areas; absence from post is a disciplinary offence.

Conduct rules: no smoking or eating at post, no personal mobile use except for duty calls, no borrowing money from staff or visitors, no gifts or favours that could compromise duty.

Handover must record time, reliever name, keys and equipment counted, pending issues, and any incident logged during the shift; both guards sign.

Use of force is limited to lawful private defence and minimum force necessary; a guard may not punish, slap, or confine a person as a penalty.

A guard reports to the supervisor first and to police for cognisable offences; in emergencies the guard may call police directly and then inform the supervisor.

Confidentiality: gate registers, CCTV feeds, visitor data and client business information are not to be shared, photographed or posted on social media.

Uniform, badge and ID card must be worn throughout duty; a guard without valid ID should not be allowed to take charge of a sensitive post.

Drill commands used at guard mounting include Savdhan (attention), Vishram (stand at ease), Line Ban (fall in), Dahine Mur (right turn), Bayen Mur (left turn), Peeche Mur (about turn) and Kadam Tal (march).

Attention posture: heels together, toes at about 30 degrees, body erect, arms straight at sides, palms inward, thumbs along the seam, eyes front.

Guard mounting is the formal parade before duty: roll call, turnout inspection, briefing by the supervisor, posting orders, and handing over of equipment.

Turnout inspection checks uniform cleanliness and fit, headgear, shoes polished, shave and haircut, nails, ID card, torch, whistle and notebook.

Physical fitness standard for a guard typically includes endurance running, push-ups, sit-ups and a medical fitness certificate; agencies verify fitness before deployment.

A guard unfit for duty (illness, injury, intoxication, extreme fatigue) must be reported to the supervisor and replaced; he must not self-certify fitness.

Foot discipline matters on long patrols: proper shoe fit, dry socks, and reporting blisters early prevent infection and lost duty hours.

Drill builds habit and instant obedience to commands, which is what makes an emergency evacuation or a sudden alert orderly rather than chaotic.

Three-step gate check: stop the person, verify identity and purpose, then record and issue a pass before granting entry; never skip the record step for known faces.

Visitor register fields: serial number, date, name, address, phone, ID type and number, person or department visited, purpose, time in, time out, and guard signature.

Material movement needs a gate pass: outward goods require an authorised signature matching the approved signatory list; without it, hold the vehicle and call the supervisor.

Contractors and vendors get temporary passes limited to defined areas and hours; tools in and out are counted and matched against the pass.

Vehicles: check driver, occupants, registration, boot and cabin at entry and exit; log the same; do not allow unauthorised parking near the gate or boundary.

Prohibited items at entry commonly include firearms without authorisation, explosives, alcohol, drugs, and unauthorised recording devices; report refusal to cooperate.

Emergency access rule: fire brigade, ambulance and police are allowed in without delay; record details afterwards rather than blocking them at the gate.

Tailgating and piggybacking are the most common access control failures; one person, one entry, and doors closed after each authorised pass.

Patrol types: fixed post, foot beat, vehicle patrol and random patrol; random timing and route variation prevent offenders from predicting the guard's position.

Clocking systems (mechanical key stations or electronic checkpoints) prove the beat was covered; missed points are a reportable lapse.

During a beat check doors, windows, locks, seals, fire exits, lighting, water tanks, boundary walls, CCTV camera positions and unauthorised parked vehicles.

Watchkeeping requires the guard to remain at the assigned vantage point and observe; leaving the post to chat or sit in a cabin defeats the purpose.

Surveillance by a private guard is observation and recording, not covert recording of private areas; privacy of staff and visitors must be respected.

Report format: what, where, when, who, how, and what action was taken; keep it factual and separate observation from opinion.

Night patrol requires a working torch with spare cells, a whistle, and knowledge of the nearest telephone or radio point.

A guard must not confront armed intruders alone; observe from cover, raise the alarm, note description and direction of escape, and inform police.

Handheld metal detector (HHMD): sweep close to the body, keep sensitivity checked with a test piece at shift start, and use a same-gender guard for body searches of women.

Door frame metal detector (DFMD) alarms must be resolved by a hand search with consent; refusal is recorded and reported, not forced.

X-ray baggage scanners are operated only by trained staff; unattended bags are isolated, cordoned and reported to police, never opened by a guard.

Communication devices: walkie-talkie, telephone, PA system and siren; radio discipline means short messages, no personal chat, and phonetic alphabet for clarity.

Fire extinguishers: PASS technique (Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side); check pressure gauge, seal and refill date monthly.

Extinguisher classes: water for Class A (paper, wood), foam for Class B (flammable liquids), CO2 or dry powder for electrical fires; never water on electrical or oil fires.

Fire alarm call points, smoke detectors, hose reels and sand buckets must be unobstructed; a blocked exit or extinguisher is a reportable safety defect.

CCTV: the guard monitors and reports; recordings are preserved on request of police or management and not deleted or edited by the guard.

Fire evacuation sequence: raise alarm, call fire brigade, switch off power and gas if safe, guide people to the assembly point, head count, and report missing persons to the fire officer.

Never use lifts during a fire evacuation; use staircases, stay low under smoke, and close doors behind to slow fire spread.

First aid priorities: danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation (DRABC); call for medical help early and do not move a suspected spinal injury unless in danger.

For burns, cool with running water for about 20 minutes, remove jewellery and loose clothing near the burn, do not burst blisters or apply oil or toothpaste.

For bleeding, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth and elevate the limb; for fracture, immobilise with a splint and do not attempt to reset the bone.

Occupational hazards for guards include night-shift fatigue, heat and cold exposure, lone working, slips on wet floors and electrical hazards; report defects in writing.

Emergency numbers in India: 112 for emergency response, 100 police, 101 fire, 108 ambulance; guards should know local numbers and the site emergency plan.

After any emergency, a written report is prepared covering time, sequence of events, persons involved, action taken and witnesses, and submitted to the supervisor.

PSARA 2005 requires every private security agency to be licensed; operating without a licence is punishable, and guards must be trained and verified before deployment.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) replaced the Indian Penal Code; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced the CrPC, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 replaced the Evidence Act.

Private defence under the BNS permits reasonable and proportionate force to protect body or property; the right exists only against an unlawful attack and never as retaliation.

A private person may arrest a person who in his presence commits a non-bailable and cognisable offence, or who is a proclaimed offender, and must hand the arrested person to police without delay.

A guard making a citizen's arrest must use minimum force, must not search or beat the person, and must record the grounds and time of arrest and the officer to whom handed over.

Theft, criminal trespass, house-breaking, hurt and criminal intimidation are cognisable offences; a guard may report them and preserve the scene, but investigation is the police function.

A guard has no power to detain a suspect for confession, demand money for release, or conduct a body search without consent and a witness.

Punjab-specific compliance: agency licence and guard verification records are inspected by the state controlling authority; guards must carry valid photo ID and training certificate.

Observation is purposeful: fix the starting point, note features in a set order (top to bottom, left to right), compare against what is normal, and repeat the scan.

Description of a person follows the head-to-toe method: build, age, face, hair, clothing, footwear, marks, gait, and direction of movement.

Incident report essentials: date and time, exact location, persons involved, sequence of events, action taken, witnesses, and signature of the guard and supervisor.

Write facts, not conclusions: 'the man ran towards the north gate at 22:15' rather than 'the man looked guilty'.

Evidence handling: do not touch or move items unless necessary; if moved, record it; use gloves, label with date, time, place and finder's name, and keep a chain-of-custody record.

CCTV footage, gate registers and visitor slips are evidence; preserve originals, do not overwrite, and hand over copies to police with a written acknowledgment.

Registers must be written in ink, with corrections struck through and initialled; never tear pages or backdate entries.

A guard may be called as a witness in court; his contemporaneous notebook entry carries weight, and he should keep it factual and legible.

Greeting standard: make eye contact, greet politely, state your purpose, and use the visitor's name once verified; keep tone calm even when the visitor is angry.

Active listening steps: stop other work, face the person, listen without interrupting, repeat the concern back, and state what you will do next.

A guard must not accept cash, gifts, meals, or favours for allowing entry, skipping a check, or ignoring a rule; this is bribery and grounds for termination and prosecution.

Conflict de-escalation: lower voice, keep distance, avoid touching, offer a clear option such as calling the supervisor, and never argue in front of visitors.

Ethical reporting means reporting a colleague's violation through the supervisor, not covering it up or taking private settlement.

Handle complaints by recording them and passing them to the supervisor; a guard should not promise outcomes he cannot deliver.

Courtesy does not mean relaxing security: a polite refusal with a clear reason is better than a rude exception.

Anti-corruption awareness includes recognising inducement offers, refusing them, and reporting the attempt in writing the same day.

Employability basics for a guard: punctuality, attendance, grooming, teamwork, following instructions, and willingness to be trained and re-certified.

Resume content: name and contact, PSARA training certificate, NSQF level, years of experience, posts handled, and references from supervisors.

Interview readiness: know the agency's name and licence, explain what you would do at a gate or on a night beat, and demonstrate correct drill and turnout.

Communication skills needed on the job: reading registers, writing reports, understanding instructions in Hindi, Punjabi or English, and using a phone politely.

Digital literacy: sending and receiving calls and messages, using a smartphone camera to photograph a scene only when permitted, and using attendance apps.

Online safety: never share OTPs, passwords, gate codes or CCTV access with anyone, and never post duty photos or client details on social media.

Entrepreneurship path: experienced guards can become supervisors, trainers, or apply for their own PSARA licence with the required capital, training and verification.

Financial literacy: use a bank account for salary, avoid informal high-interest loans, and keep records of wages, deductions and provident fund contributions.

On-the-job training cycle: observe the trainer, perform under supervision, then perform independently with periodic checks and a signed competency record.

Site induction covers layout, entry and exit points, restricted areas, emergency exits, assembly point, alarm points, and the location of first aid and fire equipment.

Shift routine: report early for guard mounting, take charge with a written handover, follow the beat and register schedule, and hand over at relief time.

Workplace discipline: no absence without informing the supervisor, no exchange of duty without approval, and no personal visitors at the post.

Industrial exposure includes observing how a factory, hospital, mall or office runs so the guard can tell normal from abnormal activity.

Incident drills and mock fire evacuations are part of workplace practice; participation and timing are recorded and reviewed.

Grievance route: raise the issue with the shift supervisor, then the agency manager, then the client's security officer; keep written copies.

Record keeping on the job includes duty roster, attendance sheet, register entries, incident reports and equipment handover notes.

Employability basics for a guard: punctuality, attendance, grooming, teamwork, following instructions, and willingness to be trained and re-certified.

Resume content: name and contact, PSARA training certificate, NSQF level, years of experience, posts handled, and references from supervisors.

Interview readiness: know the agency's name and licence, explain what you would do at a gate or on a night beat, and demonstrate correct drill and turnout.

Communication skills needed on the job: reading registers, writing reports, understanding instructions in Hindi, Punjabi or English, and using a phone politely.

Digital literacy: sending and receiving calls and messages, using a smartphone camera to photograph a scene only when permitted, and using attendance apps.

Online safety: never share OTPs, passwords, gate codes or CCTV access with anyone, and never post duty photos or client details on social media.

Entrepreneurship path: experienced guards can become supervisors, trainers, or apply for their own PSARA licence with the required capital, training and verification.

Financial literacy: use a bank account for salary, avoid informal high-interest loans, and keep records of wages, deductions and provident fund contributions.

On-the-job training cycle: observe the trainer, perform under supervision, then perform independently with periodic checks and a signed competency record.

Site induction covers layout, entry and exit points, restricted areas, emergency exits, assembly point, alarm points, and the location of first aid and fire equipment.

Shift routine: report early for guard mounting, take charge with a written handover, follow the beat and register schedule, and hand over at relief time.

Workplace discipline: no absence without informing the supervisor, no exchange of duty without approval, and no personal visitors at the post.

Industrial exposure includes observing how a factory, hospital, mall or office runs so the guard can tell normal from abnormal activity.

Incident drills and mock fire evacuations are part of workplace practice; participation and timing are recorded and reviewed.

Grievance route: raise the issue with the shift supervisor, then the agency manager, then the client's security officer; keep written copies.

Record keeping on the job includes duty roster, attendance sheet, register entries, incident reports and equipment handover notes.