DGMS Issues 2025 Guidelines – Diploma Holders Can Be Mine Managers 🛠️

• Notification
• Sep 19, 2025

📋 DGMS Guidelines 2025: Appointment of Managers in Small Opencast Metalliferous Mines

The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, issued DGMS (Tech) Instruction No. 04 of 2025 from Dhanbad. This instruction provides clear guidelines on granting permission/authorization under Regulations 34(4) and 34(6) of the Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961 (MMR, 1961) for the appointment of managers in small opencast mines 🏗️.

These guidelines were finalized after discussions in senior officers’ meetings in March 2024, November 2024, and April 2025, and later reviewed in the meetings of the Board of Mining Examination in May and July 2025.

The aim is to balance safety, supervision, and efficiency ⚖️ while allowing some flexibility for small-scale mining operations where managers may handle more than one mine.

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1. Managers with First Class Manager’s Certificate 🎓

A holder of a First Class Manager’s Certificate (or First Class Certificate restricted to mines having opencast workings only, obtained under the MMR,1961/CMR,2017) can be permitted to be appointed as Manager of more than one mine under following conditions:

Number of Mines Allowed

• 4 mines – if none are using deep hole blasting and all mines are operated with HEMM 🚜.
• 3 mines – if one or more mines are using deep hole blasting and HEMM 💥.
• 2 mines – if one or more mines are using controlled deep hole blasting near permanent buildings or structures 🏠.

Key Safety & Operational Conditions ⚠️

• Distance between farthest mines not more than 5 km 📍.
• Manager must be provided with a suitable vehicle 🚗.
• Deep hole diameter not more than 115 mm.
• Blasting must be under personal supervision; one mine per day; daylight only 🌞.
• Assistance: Mine Foreman/Overman or Mining Mate/Sirdar per mine 👷.
• Maximum employment: 150 persons/day 👥.
• Maximum explosives: 750 kg/day 💣.
• Working hours: 1 shift of 8 hours in daylight 🕗.
• Equipment: 2 excavators/loading machines per mine, total not more than 2000 HP ⚙️.

Quick Reference Table

Parameter	Limit / Condition
Maximum mines	4 (no blasting), 3 (deep hole), 2 (controlled)
Max total employment	150 persons/day
Max explosives	750 kg/day
Deep hole diameter	115 mm
Shifts per mine	1 shift, 8 hours, daylight
Equipment per mine	2 excavators/loading machines, ≤ 2000 HP
Blasting	Personal supervision, 1 mine/day, daylight only

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2. Managers with Second Class Manager’s Certificate 🎓

A holder of a Second Class Manager’s Certificate (or restricted to opencast mines only) can be permitted to manage more than one mine under stricter limits.

Number of Mines Allowed

• 3 mines – without deep hole blasting, worked with HEMM 🚜.
• 2 mines – with deep hole blasting and HEMM 💥.
• 1 mine – with controlled deep hole blasting near permanent structures 🏠.

Key Safety & Operational Conditions ⚠️

• Distance between farthest mines not more than 5 km 📍.
• Vehicle must be provided 🚗.
• Deep hole diameter not more than 115 mm.
• Blasting: Manager’s personal supervision; 1 mine per day; daylight only 🌞.
• Assistance: Foreman/Overman or Mining Mate/Sirdar per mine 👷.
• Maximum employment: 100 persons/day 👥.
• Maximum explosives: 500 kg/day 💣.
• Working hours: 1 shift of 8 hours in daylight 🕗.
• Equipment: 2 excavators/loading machines per mine, total not more than 2000 HP ⚙️.

Quick Reference Table

Parameter	Limit / Condition
Maximum mines	3 (no blasting), 2 (deep hole), 1 (controlled)
Max total employment	100 persons/day
Max explosives	500 kg/day
Deep hole diameter	115 mm
Shifts per mine	1 shift, 8 hours, daylight
Equipment per mine	2 excavators/loading machines, ≤ 2000 HP
Blasting	Personal supervision, 1 mine/day, daylight only

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3. Managers with Degree in Mining Engineering 🎓

Degree holders in Mining Engineering may also be authorized to act as Managers, but within limited scope.

Conditions

• At least 6 months of post-degree practical experience required ⏳.
• Can manage maximum 2 mines 📍.
• Mines must be within 5 km.
• Vehicle must be provided 🚗.
• No deep hole blasting or controlled blasting allowed ❌.
• Blasting operations must be under Manager’s personal supervision 💥.
• Assistance: Foreman/Overman or Mining Mate/Sirdar at each mine 👷.
• Maximum employment: 75 persons/day 👥.
• Maximum explosives: 100 kg/day 💣.
• Working hours: 1 shift of 8 hours in daylight 🕗.
• Equipment: 1 excavator/loading machine, total not more than 1000 HP ⚙️.

Quick Reference Table

Parameter	Limit / Condition
Maximum mines	2
Max total employment	75 persons/day
Max explosives	100 kg/day
Blasting	No deep hole or controlled blasting allowed
Shifts per mine	1 shift, 8 hours, daylight
Equipment per mine	1 excavator/loading machine, ≤ 1000 HP

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4. Managers with Diploma in Mining Engineering 🎓

Diploma holders may be authorized, but with very strict restrictions, and only for one mine.

Conditions

• At least 6 months of post-diploma practical experience required ⏳.
• Can manage only 1 mine 📍.
• No deep hole blasting or controlled blasting allowed ❌.
• Blasting must be under Manager’s personal supervision 💥.
• Assistance: At least one Mining Mate/Sirdar at the mine 👷.
• Maximum employment: 50 persons/day 👥.
• Maximum explosives: 50 kg/day 💣.
• Working hours: 1 shift of 8 hours in daylight 🕗.
• No crushing/screening/processing plant allowed ⚠️.
• Equipment: 1 excavator/loading machine, ≤ 1000 HP ⚙️.

Quick Reference Table

Parameter	Limit / Condition
Maximum mines	1
Max total employment	50 persons/day
Max explosives	50 kg/day
Blasting	No deep hole or controlled blasting allowed
Shifts per mine	1 shift, 8 hours, daylight
Processing plant	Not allowed
Equipment per mine	1 excavator/loading machine, ≤ 1000 HP

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📊 Master Comparison Table: Eligibility & Limits

Parameter	First Class Manager	Second Class Manager	Degree Holder	Diploma Holder
Maximum Mines	4 (no blasting) 3 (deep hole) 2 (controlled blasting)	3 (no blasting) 2 (deep hole) 1 (controlled blasting)	2 (no deep hole blasting)	1 (no deep hole blasting)
Max Employment	150 persons/day	100 persons/day	75 persons/day	50 persons/day
Max Explosives	750 kg/day	500 kg/day	100 kg/day	50 kg/day
Blasting Permission	Deep hole blasting allowed (controlled near buildings)	Deep hole blasting allowed (controlled near buildings)	Only ordinary blasting No deep hole blasting	Only ordinary blasting No deep hole blasting
Shift Timing	1 shift, 8 hrs, daylight	1 shift, 8 hrs, daylight	1 shift, 8 hrs, daylight	1 shift, 8 hrs, daylight
Equipment	2 excavators/loading machines ≤ 2000 HP per mine	2 excavators/loading machines ≤ 2000 HP per mine	1 excavator/loading machine ≤ 1000 HP	1 excavator/loading machine ≤ 1000 HP
Special Restrictions	Vehicle support mandatory	Vehicle support mandatory	Min. 6 months experience No deep hole blasting	Min. 6 months experience No processing plant allowed

✨ Final Thoughts

These new DGMS instructions bring clarity and flexibility for small opencast mines while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. By linking authorization with qualification type and restricting manpower, explosives, and equipment, DGMS ensures managers can effectively control operations without compromising mine safety.

👉 Whether you are a mining professional or a mine owner, understanding these guidelines is essential for compliance and safe mine management.