Govt proposes new explosives law, repeal old act of 1884

New Delhi: The government has proposed the draft Explosives Bill, 2024 in place of the Explosives Act, 1884 which it seeks to repeal. In a note for public consultation, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has sought to increase fines for violation of provisions and further streamline the process of grant of licences.

Explosives include gunpowder, nitoglycerine, nitroglycol, di-nitro-toluene, and picricacid.

As per the proposed Explosive Bill 2024 bill, the Central Government shall prescribe the authority competent to grant, suspend or revoke a licence and to perform certain other functions under the new Act.


At present, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) under the DPIIT is the authority for granting licences for manufacture, possession, use, sale, import and export of any explosive.

The new bill also proposes that the licensing authority would specify in the licence gabout the quantity of explosives that a licencee can manufacture, possess, sell, transport, import or export, for specified period, as may be prescribed.

If a licencee manufacturers, imports or exports violating any provisions the draft bill proposes three years imprisonment or a fine of Rs one lakh or both. In the existing Explosives Act, the prison term for violation of three years, and Rs 50,000 fine.

Similarly, for the possession, use, sale or transport of any explosive in violation of the provisions of the new bill jail term of up to two years or a fine of Rs 50,000 or both is proposed. In the existing law, the fine is Rs 3,000.