📘 DGMS Approval Policy 2016 – Complete Overview & Key Provisions 

The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) regulates mining equipment, machinery, materials, and protective systems used in Indian mines.
The DGMS Approval Policy – Second Revision 2016 outlines:

• Which items require DGMS approval
• Approval processes
• Conditions for manufacturers
• Testing requirements
• Factory inspection
• Renewal & withdrawal of approvals

This policy ensures that all mining equipment used in India conforms to safety standards, quality systems, and statutory requirements under the Mines Act.

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🔹 1. Purpose of DGMS Approval Policy

DGMS approvals are essential to:

• Ensure safety of miners
• Prevent fires, explosions, electrical hazards, roof falls
• Maintain quality & reliability of mining equipment
• Ensure compliance with national and international standards
• Regulate imported machinery used in Indian mines

Without DGMS approval, no equipment can be used in belowground coal mines, gassy seams, hazardous zones or electrical installations in mines.

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🔹 2. Categories of DGMS Approvals 

 DGMS approval is divided into three major categories:

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⭐ 1. General Order Approvals

Common mining equipment already included in the DGMS-approved list.
No special testing required unless modified. Examples:

• Safety helmets
• Safety shoes
• Conveyor belts
• Trolley locomotives
• Ventilation ducts

(Complete list provided in Blog 4.)

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⭐ 2. Special Order Approvals 

 Equipment with high safety risk requiring mandatory DGMS testing. Examples:

• Flameproof equipment
• Intrinsically safe (IS) systems
• Electrical machinery
• Explosives & detonators
• Miner’s cap lamps
• Gas detectors
• Self-contained self-rescuers (SCSR)

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⭐ 3. Provisional Approvals 

 Temporary approvals granted:

• For field trials
• For new equipment under development
• Before commercial rollout

Validity: 6–12 months

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🔹 3. Who Needs DGMS Approval? 

  ⭐ A. Indian Manufacturers Must submit:

• Test reports (BIS / NABL labs)
• Quality Management System (QMS) proof
• Factory inspection reports
• Product drawings & specifications
• Form-B / Form-C documents

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⭐ B. Overseas Manufacturers

Must appoint an Indian Authorized Representative (IAR) who will:

• Submit applications
• Maintain spare parts
• Provide warranty support
• Handle compliance & audits

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🔹 4. DGMS Approval Workflow (Step-by-Step) 

  Manufacturer → Submit Application → Testing → Factory Audit → DGMS Technical Review → Grant / Reject → Renewal / Validity

Step 1: Application Submission Includes:

• Technical dossier
• Hazardous area certification (IECEx/ATEX/BIS)
• Drawings, manuals, layout diagrams
• QMS certificates (ISO 9001 mandatory)

Step 2: Testing Mandatory testing in:

• CIMFR
• ERTL
• ETDC
• CPRI
• Any DGMS-recognized lab

Step 3: Factory Inspection DGMS inspects:

• Production line
• Quality control
• Traceability
• Material testing
• Calibration systems

Step 4: Technical Review DGMS checks:

• Standards compliance
• Lab reports
• Performance
• Safety design

Step 5: Grant of Approval 

 Validity duration depends on equipment category.

  Step 6: Renewal Requires latest test reports & performance review.

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🔹 5. Documents Required for DGMS Approval ⭐ Mandatory Documents

• Form B / Form C
• Technical drawings
• Material specifications
• Quality certificates (ISO 9001)
• BIS license (where applicable)
• Test certificates (CIMFR/CPRI/ERTL)
• IECEx/ATEX certification (for flameproof items)
• Performance data
• User manuals

⭐ Additional for overseas companies

• Authorization of Indian agent
• Memorandum of understanding
• Service & warranty agreements

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🔹 6. Validity of DGMS Approvals

Type of Approval	Validity
Flameproof equipment	5 years
Explosives	1–2 years
Rescue equipment	3 years
PPE	2–3 years
Provisional approval	6–12 months

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🔹 7. Conditions for Maintaining Approval Manufacturers must ensure:

• No modification without DGMS permission
• Maintain quality control
• Maintain service & spares availability
• Provide annual performance reports
• Ensure proper user training

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🔹 8. Grounds for Suspension or Withdrawal DGMS may withdraw approval in case of:

• Failure during use
• Accidents caused by equipment
• Poor quality control
• Unauthorized design changes
• Complaints from mining companies
• Non-compliance during factory inspection

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🔹 9. DGMS Testing Requirements 

  ⭐ Flameproof (FLP)

• Explosion-proof integrity testing
• Spark test
• Temperature rise test

⭐ Intrinsically Safe (IS)

• Circuit energy limitation
• Short-circuit studies
• Ignition tests

⭐ Electrical Equipment

• IP protection
• Insulation
• HV tests
• Earthing provisions

⭐ Mechanical Equipment

• Stress analysis
• Load testing
• Endurance cycle tests

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🔥  25 MCQs (DGMS Style) with Answers

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1) DGMS approval is mandatory for equipment used in — 

a) Factories
b) Agriculture
c) Mines
d) Schools
e) None
Ans: c

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2) Flameproof equipment falls under —

a) General order
b) Special order
c) Temporary order
d) Optional
e) None
Ans: b

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3) DGMS approval validity for FLP equipment —

a) 1 year
b) 2 years
c) 5 years
d) Lifetime
e) None
Ans: c

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4) Overseas manufacturers must appoint —

a) Loader operator
b) DGMS officer
c) Indian authorized representative
d) Mechanic
e) None
Ans: c

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5) Provisional approval validity —

a) 1 month
b) 6–12 months
c) 5 years
d) Depends on state
e) None
Ans: b

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6) DGMS approval policy revised in —

a) 1999
b) 2003
c) 2016
d) 2020
e) None
Ans: c

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7) Flameproof testing done at —

a) IIT
b) Polytechnic
c) CIMFR/ERTL/CPRI
d) BARC
e) None
Ans: c

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8) For underground mines, equipment must be —

a) Ordinary
b) FLP/IS certified
c) Unchecked
d) Wooden
e) None
Ans: b

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9) Quality system required —

a) ISO 9001
b) ISO 18001
c) ISO 50001
d) Any
e) None
Ans: a

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10) Equipment modification requires —

a) Manager approval
b) Superintendent approval
c) DGMS approval
d) Supplier approval
e) None
Ans: c

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11) DGMS may withdraw approval for —

a) Good performance
b) Routine use
c) Failure & non-compliance
d) High cost
e) None
Ans: c

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12) Factory inspection checks —

a) Office staff
b) Quality management
c) Coal grade
d) Salary
e) None
Ans: b

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13) IECEx relates to —

a) Ventilation
b) Explosion protection standards
c) Surveying
d) Blasting
e) None
Ans: b

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14) DGMS approvals required under —

a) Factories Act
b) Mines Act
c) Motor Act
d) IPC
e) None
Ans: b

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15) Provisional approval is for —

a) Old equipment
b) Field trials
c) Safety shoes
d) Cement
e) None
Ans: b

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16) Field trials are supervised by —

a) DGMS inspector
b) Mine management + DGMS monitoring
c) Student
d) Mechanic
e) None
Ans: b

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17) FLP stands for —

a) Flexible Lamp Pack
b) Flameproof
c) Flow pressure
d) Fuel pressure
e) None
Ans: b

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18) IS equipment means —

a) Indian Standard
b) Industrial Steel
c) Intrinsically Safe
d) Insulated System
e) None
Ans: c

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19) Equipment must meet —

a) Random standards
b) BIS/IECEx/ATEX norms
c) Local rules
d) None
Ans: b

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20) DGMS tests electrical equipment for —

a) Colour
b) Design
c) Safety & compliance
d) Paint
e) None
Ans: c

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21) Complaints may lead to —

a) Ignoring
b) Reward
c) Suspension of approval
d) Promotion
e) None
Ans: c

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22) Application forms are —

a) Form X
b) Form-Y
c) Form B / Form C
d) Form A
e) None
Ans: c

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23) Field trial success leads to —

a) Scrap
b) Full DGMS approval
c) Vacation
d) Shutdown
e) None
Ans: b

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24) Renewal requires —

a) New drawing only
b) No documents
c) Fresh test reports
d) Police verification
e) None
Ans: c

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25) DGMS maintains list of —

a) Trucks
b) Offices
c) Approved equipment
d) Restaurants
e) None
Ans: c

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🔚 Conclusion 

The DGMS Approval Policy 2016 is the foundation of equipment safety in Indian mining.
It ensures:

• Only tested & certified equipment is used
• Worker safety is prioritized
• Manufacturers maintain quality
• Mines comply with all statutory rules

Every mining engineer, manager, and manufacturer must understand this policy thoroughly.

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