DGMS Circular 2025 – Number of Assistant Managers to be Appointed (DGMS Exam Notes & MCQs)

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🏗️ Introduction In 2025, DGMS issued an important circular under CMR 2017 Reg. 7 / MMR 1961 Reg. 7 

regarding the appointment of Assistant Managers in mines. 

  👉 The circular standardizes how many Assistant Managers (AMs) must be appointed in underground and opencast mines based on output/material handled. 

  📌 For DGMS exams, this topic is crucial because questions often ask:

• Output thresholds for compulsory AM appointment.
• Deployment rules in underground vs opencast mines.
• Qualification requirements.
• Leave reserve provisions.

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🔹 1. Applicability

• Issued under Regulation 7 of CMR 2017 / MMR 1961.
• Applies to both underground (UG) and opencast (OC) mines.
• Objective: Ensure adequate statutory supervision, prevent accidents due to under-deployment.

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🔹 2. Underground Mines (UG)

• Linked to average monthly output.

1. >7,000 T/month → At least 1 Assistant Manager (AM).
2. Up to 10,000 T/month → 1 AM.
3. Beyond 10,000 T → +1 AM for every 5,000 T (or part thereof).
4. >20,000 T/month → At least 1 AM must hold First-Class Manager’s Certificate.

Example Calculation:

• Output = 28,000 T/month →
• First 10,000 T → 1 AM
• Next 15,000 T (10–25k) → 3 AM (1 per 5k)
• Balance 3,000 → 1 AM (part thereof)
• Total = 5 AM, of which at least 1 must be First-Class.

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🔹 3. Opencast Mines (OC) 

 Appointment based on Average Material Handled (AMH) = Coal + Overburden. (A) General Shift Duties

• 1 AM overall in-charge.
• 1–2 AM for planning, survey, design.
• 1–3 AM for coal production.
• 1–3 AM for OB/dump ops.
• 1 AM per 20 T/day of explosives.
• 1–2 AM for roads, illumination, dust suppression, CHP.
• At least 1 AM for safety, health, PME/IME.

(B) Each Shift Deployment

• 1 AM at coal face per shift (2 if >50 Mm³ AMH).
• 1–2 AM at OB faces.
• 1 AM at dumps & haul roads (back shift).
• 1 AM for dust/noise/illumination monitoring.
• 1 AM for dispatch & traffic control.

(C) Additional Deployment

• For 1–6 Mm³ AMH → +1 AM per extra 1 Mm³.
• For >100 Mm³ AMH → +1 AM per extra 4 Mm³.
• Haul roads >10 km → 1 dedicated AM.
• In very large mines → separate AMs for blasting, OB, coal.

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🔹 4. Qualification Requirements

• At least 30% of AMs must hold a First-Class Manager’s Certificate (Coal or Metal, as applicable).
• In UG mines >20,000 T/month → At least 1 AM must be First-Class.
• Special assignments (dust, noise, roads, CHP, E&M) → Degree-holder mining engineers can be appointed as AM.

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🔹 5. Leave Reserve Provision

• Mines must appoint extra AMs for leave/sickness/holidays.
• Prevents shortage of statutory coverage.
• DGMS prohibited “minimum only” appointments.

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🔹 6. Duties of Assistant Managers

• Clear jurisdiction must be defined in writing.
• Appointment order must be entered in bound paged book & notified to DGMS.
• Duties:
• Daily supervision of safety & production.
• Inspection of workings.
• Checking dust suppression, haul roads, benches, ventilation.
• Supervising blasting & transport.

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🔹 7. DGMS Compliance

• Many accidents were linked to insufficient supervision.
• Deployment must be risk-based + output-based.
• Mines must maintain shift-wise deployment charts.
• DGMS inspectors will verify during inspections.

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🔹 8. Exam Shortcuts (One-Liners)

• UG Mines →
• 7,000 T/month → AM compulsory.
• 1 AM up to 10,000 T.
• +1 AM per 5,000 T beyond 10k.
• 20k T → At least 1 AM must be First-Class.
• OC Mines →
• Based on AMH (coal + OB).
• General shift + each shift + additional deployment.
• 30% of AMs must be First-Class.
• 1 AM per 20 T/day explosives.
• Haul road >10 km → 1 dedicated AM.
• General →
• Extra AMs for leave reserve.
• Jurisdiction must be in writing.
• DGMS can cancel appointments if inadequate.

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🔹 9. Practice MCQs (DGMS Exam Style – 25 Qs)

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🔹 Expanded MCQs (30 Qs – DGMS Circular 2025, Assistant Managers) 

  Q1. Under which regulation is appointment of Assistant Managers covered?
A) CMR 2017 Reg. 5
B) MMR 1961 Reg. 6
C) CMR 2017 / MMR 1961 Reg. 7
D) Mines Act Sec. 17
E) CMR 2017 Reg. 11 

  Answer: C
Solution: Appointment of AMs is covered under Regulation 7.

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Q2. In UG mines, AM appointment is compulsory if monthly output exceeds:
A) 5,000 T
B) 7,000 T
C) 10,000 T
D) 15,000 T
E) 20,000 T 

  Answer: B
Solution: Compulsory if output >7,000 T/month.

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Q3. How many AMs required if UG mine output = 28,000 T/month?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
E) 7 

  Answer: C
Solution: 5 AMs, with at least 1 First-Class.

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Q4. In UG mines >20,000 T/month, one AM must hold:
A) Second-Class Manager’s certificate
B) First-Class Manager’s certificate
C) Overman’s certificate
D) Diploma in Mining
E) None 

  Answer: B
Solution: Mandatory requirement.

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Q5. In OC mines, AMH refers to:
A) Annual Material Handling
B) Average Material Handled
C) Average Monthly Haulage
D) Additional Mine Handling
E) Auxiliary Mine Handling 

  Answer: B
Solution: AMH = Coal + Overburden handled.

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Q6. How many AMs needed per 20 T/day explosives in OC mines?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) None 

  Answer: A
Solution: 1 AM per 20 T/day explosives.

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Q7. Minimum % of AMs who must hold First-Class certificate is:
A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 30%
D) 40%
E) 50% 

  Answer: C
Solution: 30% must be First-Class.

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Q8. For haul roads >10 km, requirement is:
A) Supervisor
B) One dedicated AM
C) Two dedicated AMs
D) Surveyor only
E) None 

  Answer: B
Solution: One dedicated AM for road supervision.

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Q9. If OC mine AMH = 120 Mm³, how many extra AMs required beyond 100 Mm³?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
E) 7 

  Answer: C
Solution: Extra = 20/4 = 5 AMs.

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Q10. Leave reserve provision ensures:
A) Cost reduction
B) Extra AMs for absence/leave
C) Only training of AMs
D) Safety audit
E) None 

  Answer: B
Solution: Mines must appoint reserve AMs for coverage.

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Q11. UG mine producing 9,500 T/month requires:
A) No AM
B) 1 AM
C) 2 AM
D) 3 AM
E) 4 AM 

  Answer: B
Solution: One AM up to 10,000 T/month.

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Q12. UG mine producing 16,000 T/month requires:
A) 2 AM
B) 3 AM
C) 4 AM
D) 5 AM
E) None 

  Answer: B
Solution: 1 AM up to 10k + 2 AM for 6k → 3 AM total.

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Q13. UG mine producing 25,000 T/month requires:
A) 3 AM
B) 4 AM
C) 5 AM
D) 6 AM
E) 7 AM 

  Answer: D
Solution: 1 (first 10k) + 3 (next 15k) = 4 → total 5 AM, plus part beyond → 6.

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Q14. In OC mines, deployment of AMs is based on:
A) Output only
B) Risk + output (AMH)
C) Manpower strength
D) Production plan only
E) None 

  Answer: B
Solution: DGMS clarified risk + AMH both matter.

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Q15. For OC mines with 50 Mm³ AMH, coal faces require per shift:
A) 1 AM
B) 2 AM
C) 3 AM
D) 4 AM
E) None 

  Answer: B
Solution: If >50 Mm³ → at least 2 AM per shift.

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Q16. Which body verifies AM deployment during inspections?
A) Owner
B) DGMS Inspectors
C) Mine Safety Officer
D) Ministry of Coal
E) CIL HQ 

  Answer: B
Solution: DGMS inspectors check shift charts.

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Q17. Appointment orders of AMs must be recorded in:
A) Loose sheet file
B) Excel sheet
C) Bound paged book
D) Register copy only
E) None 

  Answer: C
Solution: As per CMR 2017 Reg. 7(3).

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Q18. In OC mines, dispatch & traffic control requires:
A) Surveyor
B) Overman
C) 1 AM per shift
D) Mechanical engineer
E) Safety officer 

  Answer: C
Solution: AM per shift for traffic & dispatch.

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Q19. DGMS observed many accidents were linked to:
A) Poor drilling
B) Insufficient supervision
C) Overburden dumping
D) Explosive shortage
E) Wage disputes 

  Answer: B
Solution: Lack of AM deployment caused accidents.

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Q20. In UG mines, average monthly output means:
A) Current month only
B) Peak month
C) Average of last financial year output
D) Maximum daily output × 30
E) Random estimation 

  Answer: C
Solution: Defined as average of last FY.

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Q21. An OC mine using 25 T/day explosives must appoint:
A) 1 AM
B) 2 AM
C) 3 AM
D) 4 AM
E) None 

  Answer: B
Solution: 1 AM per 20 T → 25 T requires 2 AMs.

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Q22. AMs appointed for dust/noise monitoring may be:
A) Diploma engineers only
B) Mining Sirdars
C) Degree-holder mining engineers
D) Safety officers only
E) None 

  Answer: C
Solution: Degree engineers can be AMs in special works.

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Q23. If UG mine output = 12,000 T/month, how many AMs?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5 

  Answer: B
Solution: 1 (up to 10k) + 1 (extra 2k) = 2 AM.

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Q24. For OC mines with haul road >10 km, AM must be:
A) Any supervisor
B) Dedicated to road supervision
C) Mine surveyor
D) Overman in charge
E) None 

  Answer: B
Solution: Dedicated AM for long haul roads.

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Q25. Which of the following is NOT a duty of AM?
A) Supervise blasting
B) Inspect haul roads
C) Maintain deployment chart
D) Daily inspection of workings
E) DGMS inspection reports 

  Answer: E
Solution: DGMS inspections are not AM’s duty.

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Q26. Mines must maintain AM deployment chart:
A) Weekly
B) Monthly
C) Shift-wise
D) Yearly
E) None 

  Answer: C
Solution: DGMS requires shift-wise deployment.

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Q27. In OC mines >100 Mm³ AMH, extra AM required per:
A) 1 Mm³
B) 2 Mm³
C) 3 Mm³
D) 4 Mm³
E) 5 Mm³ 

  Answer: D
Solution: +1 AM per extra 4 Mm³ beyond 100.

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Q28. Who approves jurisdiction of AMs?
A) Mine Owner
B) Agent
C) Manager
D) DGMS
E) Safety Officer 

  Answer: C
Solution: Manager defines & approves jurisdiction.

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Q29. Which factor does NOT decide AM deployment?
A) Output
B) Material handled
C) Risk assessment
D) Worker strength
E) Statutory rules 

  Answer: D
Solution: Worker strength is not direct basis.

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Q30. Why was DGMS Circular 2025 issued?
A) To reduce wages
B) To regulate blasting
C) To standardize AM deployment & improve safety
D) To increase production
E) To replace managers 

  Answer: C
Solution: Issued for proper supervision & safety.

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🏁 Conclusion DGMS Circular 2025 ensures adequate deployment of Assistant Managers in mines.
👉 For exams, remember:

• UG threshold = 7,000 T/month.
• +1 AM per 5,000 T output.
• OC mines → based on AMH.
• 30% AMs must be First-Class.
• Leave reserve compulsory.

This is a hot topic for DGMS exams, and numerical Qs are expected.

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