The government has set the ball rolling for the repeal of the existing Explosives Act of 1884 and replace it with a new law that will be in sync with the current requirements.
“It is proposed to repeal the Explosives Act, 1884 and re-enact a new law with necessary modifications including in the penal provisions thereof, to bring it in conformity with the current scenario or circumstances,” a note by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) inviting comments of the new law said.
The department said the existing act, which is based on the old British pattern, is not adequately meeting the country’s growing requirements and developments in the explosive sector thereby resulting in difficulties for the industry. The British era Act was once amended comprehensively in 1978.
The explosives law regulates the manufacture, possession,use, sale, transport, import and export of explosives for commercial purposes and to prevent accidents (explosion) due to explosives in the territory of India.
The new law also follows the examination by the government of all the pre-constitutional Acts from the purview of their suitability and relevance in the present circumstances. For pre-independence acts, the review suggested remedial actions for the repeal or re-enactment or consolidation of two or more central acts into single enactment regulating identical matters.
The earlier draft of the Explosives Bill 2025 had talked of setting up a new authority to grant, suspend or revoke a license and to perform certain other actions under the new law. At present an industrial license by DPIIT is required to manufacture explosives. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) within DPIIT is the primary authority that grants licenses for manufacturing explosives. They are responsible for regulating the safety of hazardous substances like explosives, compressed gases, and petroleum.
In the license the authority will specify the quantity of explosive that a license can manufacture, possess, sell, transport, export and import for a specified period.
The fine for violation of the provisions of the explosives law has also been increased in the proposed Bill. For manufacture, import or export of any explosive in violation of provisions of new law the fine will be increased to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 5,000 earlier. The provision of three year imprisonment along with the fine remains. The violators can get either fine or imprisonment or both.
In the proposed bill for possession, sale and transport of explosives in violation of the law the fine will go up to Rs 50,000 from Rs 3,000. The provision of two year imprisonment along with the fine stays.
