⁠Is it legal to carry pepper spray or self-defense tools?

In India, carrying and using pepper spray is legal without a license, along with safety rods, monkey fist knots, and personal alarms. Pepper spray use is protected under the BNS Act, which allows private defense of person and property under certain conditions.

However, possession may be prohibited in places like airports, government buildings, schools, and Delhi metro for security reasons.

The Karnataka High Court, in C. Ganesh Narayan v. State of Karnataka (2024), clarified that pepper spray can be considered a dangerous weapon if misused, stressing the importance of caution and following legal guidelines.