Mining Safety Standards Worldwide

27 Mar 2025 CW Team

Worker safety, health, and welfare in mines are regulated under the Mines Act, 1952, and its associated rules and regulations. The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), operating under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, ensures compliance through mine inspections and safety enforcement. Measures taken to reduce fatalities and improve worker safety include accident investigations, mine inspections, development of safety standards, national safety conferences, and awareness campaigns. Mine owners and lessees are required to adhere to the provisions of the Mines Act, 1952, along with regulations under the Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961, and Coal Mines Regulations, 2017, which include safeguards against dust, smoke, and harmful gases.

Under Section 23C of the MMDR Act, 1957, State Governments have the authority to regulate and prevent illegal mining, transportation, and storage of minerals. While illegal mining falls under state jurisdiction, the Central Government supports these efforts through policy measures. The 2015 amendment to the MMDR Act introduced stringent penalties for illegal mining, including imprisonment and fines. The Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017, set guidelines for scientific mining practices. Additionally, the Mining Surveillance System (MSS), developed by the Ministry of Mines in collaboration with IBM, BISAG, and MEITY, employs space technology to monitor and curb illegal mining activities.

News source: PIB

Section 9B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR) empowers State Governments to establish District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) to implement development programs in mining-affected areas. The Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) serves as the framework for utilizing DMF funds to support the welfare and development of these regions. Under PMKKKY, at least 70 per cent of the funds are allocated to high-priority sectors such as education, skill development, and livelihood generation, while up to 30 per cent is directed towards other priority sectors, including physical infrastructure. As of January 2025, Rs 1.04 trillion has been collected under DMFs, with Rs 884.83 billion sanctioned for 3.69 lakh projects. A total of 2.08 lakh projects have been completed, with Rs 559.24 billion spent across 645 DMF districts in 23 states. Worker safety, health, and welfare in mines are regulated under the Mines Act, 1952, and its associated rules and regulations. The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), operating under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, ensures compliance through mine inspections and safety enforcement. Measures taken to reduce fatalities and improve worker safety include accident investigations, mine inspections, development of safety standards, national safety conferences, and awareness campaigns. Mine owners and lessees are required to adhere to the provisions of the Mines Act, 1952, along with regulations under the Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961, and Coal Mines Regulations, 2017, which include safeguards against dust, smoke, and harmful gases. Under Section 23C of the MMDR Act, 1957, State Governments have the authority to regulate and prevent illegal mining, transportation, and storage of minerals. While illegal mining falls under state jurisdiction, the Central Government supports these efforts through policy measures. The 2015 amendment to the MMDR Act introduced stringent penalties for illegal mining, including imprisonment and fines. The Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017, set guidelines for scientific mining practices. Additionally, the Mining Surveillance System (MSS), developed by the Ministry of Mines in collaboration with IBM, BISAG, and MEITY, employs space technology to monitor and curb illegal mining activities. News source: PIB

Infrastructure Transport

13 Oct 2025

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Infrastructure Urban

13 Oct 2025

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Technology

13 Oct 2025

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..