Explosives Act, 1884

and Administrative Ministry The designation of the Head of the Department was first changed to ‘Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Explosives in India ’ in 1902-03. During post- independence period, the prefix “Her Majesty’s” was deleted. The suffix “In India” was subsequently deleted in 1973, with change in the designation as “Chief Controller of Explosives” with corresponding changes in the subordinate cadres and since then, this designation of “Chief Controller of Explosives and Controller of Explosives” were incorporated in the main frame of the Acts & Rules after necessary amendment in the Explosives and Petroleum Acts & the Rules framed thereunder.

The Department of Explosives remained under the control of Home Dept. prior to 1905 and subsequently shifted to Dept. of Commerce and Industry in 1905, Dept of Industries during 1921,Dept. of Industry and labor during 1923,Dept. of Labour during 1937,Ministry of Work, Mines and Power during 1950,Ministry of Works, Production and Supply during 1951.Ministry of Work, Housing and Supply during 1952,Ministry of Industrial Development, Internal trade and Company Affairs during 1969, and thereafter the  this Ministry was later reorganized several times  with attachment/ detachment of  departments  like internal trade, Company Affairs, Civil supplies, Science  and Technology etc. At present, the Department of  Explosives remained under  the Department of Industrial Development,  Ministry of Industry up to the year 1999-2000. During the year 2000-2001, the Department of Industrial Development was merged with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and now the Department of Explosives is under the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.

establishment set up

The Activities of the Department of Explosives were initially confined mostly to inspection of few magazines existing at that time.  The following duties were assigned to the then Chief Inspector of Explosives:-