📘 Detailed Notes (Exam-Oriented)
1. Background

• Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) is responsible for administration of the Mines Act, 1952 and related regulations across India.
• DGMS operates through zonal & regional offices.
• In 2023, DGMS reorganized its zones and regions for better administrative efficiency and coverage of mining areas.
• This circular clarifies the jurisdiction of each zone/region after reorganisation.

2. Why Reorganisation Was Needed

• Uneven distribution of workload in zones.
• Increased mining activity in some regions (coal, metal, stone quarries).
• Need for closer monitoring of safety after several accidents.
• To streamline inspections, approvals, and enforcement.

3. DGMS Structure (Post-2023 Reorganisation)

• DGMS HQ: Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
• Zonal offices (headed by Dy. DG of Mines Safety):
  • North Zone
  • South Zone
  • East Zone
  • West Zone
  • Central Zone
• Each zone has regional offices, headed by Directors of Mines Safety.

4. Jurisdiction Highlights
(Exact jurisdiction lists are given in the circular – for exam, focus on general framework)

• Eastern Zone → Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh (major coal & metal mining).
• Western Zone → Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra (metal & stone mining).
• Southern Zone → Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana (granite, metal, coal).
• Northern Zone → Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi (minor minerals, stone, cement).
• Central Zone → Madhya Pradesh, parts of Chhattisgarh (coal & metal).

5. Functions of Zonal & Regional DGMS Offices

• Conducting inspections of mines, quarries, oilfields.
• Processing statutory approvals (e.g., mine plans, equipment approvals).
• Conducting examinations (e.g., Overman, Manager’s Certificates).
• Investigating accidents.
• Implementing safety circulars at local level.

6. Importance of Circular

• Provides clarity on which office handles which area.
• Reduces confusion for mine management in reporting & compliance.
• Ensures better distribution of workload.
• Strengthens field-level safety enforcement.

7. Exam-Oriented Key Points

• Circular 01 of 2023 = DGMS jurisdiction of zones & regions.
• Total zones after reorganisation = 5.
• HQ remains at Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
• Each zone → multiple regional offices.
• Purpose → better coverage, safety, and efficiency.

📝 25 MCQs – DGMS General Circular No. 01 of 2023
Q1. Circular 01 of 2023 deals with:

1. Inundation precautions
2. Heat wave precautions
3. DGMS jurisdiction of zones & regions
4. Training syllabus
5. TTM safety

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: It specifies DGMS zones & regions after reorganisation.
   Q2. DGMS HQ is located at:

1. Delhi
2. Ranchi
3. Dhanbad
4. Nagpur
5. Hyderabad

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: DGMS HQ is at Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
   Q3. Number of zones of DGMS after reorganisation in 2023:

1. 3
2. 4
3. 5
4. 6
5. 7

✅ Answer: 3) 5
Solution: DGMS has 5 zones post-2023.
Q4. Each zone is headed by:

1. Director
2. Deputy DG of Mines Safety
3. Safety Officer
4. Overman
5. Mining Inspector

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Zones are headed by Dy. DG of Mines Safety.
Q5. Eastern Zone covers which states?

1. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra
2. Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal
3. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
4. UP, Delhi, Himachal
5. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Eastern Zone = coal & metal mining belt.
Q6. Western Zone includes:

1. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
2. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
3. Delhi, UP
4. Jharkhand, Odisha
5. Kerala, Goa

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: Western Zone covers Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan.
   Q7. Southern Zone includes:

1. UP, Delhi
2. Karnataka, TN, AP, Telangana
3. Rajasthan, Gujarat
4. Odisha, Jharkhand
5. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Southern Zone = southern states.
Q8. Central Zone includes:

1. MP, parts of Chhattisgarh
2. Delhi, Himachal
3. Maharashtra, Goa
4. Odisha, Bengal
5. UP, Bihar

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: Central Zone = MP + parts of Chhattisgarh.
   Q9. Northern Zone includes:

1. Maharashtra
2. Jharkhand
3. UP, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Delhi
4. Odisha
5. TN

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: Northern Zone covers UP, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Delhi.
   Q10. Regional offices are headed by:

1. Safety Officer
2. Director of Mines Safety
3. Mining Engineer
4. Overman
5. Dy. DG

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Regional offices are headed by DMS.
Q11. Function of DGMS regional office includes:

1. Conducting inspections
2. Accident investigation
3. Conducting exams
4. Processing approvals
5. All of the above

✅ Answer: 5
Solution: Regional offices handle all listed tasks.
Q12. Mines Act, 1952 is administered by:

1. DGMS
2. DGMS + State Govt
3. MoLE
4. Ministry of Coal
5. CIL

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: DGMS administers Mines Act, 1952.
   Q13. Purpose of 2023 reorganisation:

1. Reduce manpower
2. Increase production
3. Better workload distribution & safety enforcement
4. Reduce zones
5. Privatization

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: Aim was better administration.
Q14. DGMS zones after 2023 include:

1. East, West, North, South, Central
2. East, West, North, South, NE
3. East, West, North, South, Coal
4. Only East & West
5. None

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: 5 zones = E, W, N, S, Central.
   Q15. Which zone covers Odisha?

1. West Zone
2. East Zone
3. North Zone
4. South Zone
5. Central Zone

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Odisha is in East Zone.
   Q16. Which zone covers Rajasthan?

1. North Zone
2. West Zone
3. East Zone
4. South Zone
5. Central Zone

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Rajasthan = West Zone.
Q17. Which zone covers Karnataka?

1. East Zone
2. South Zone
3. West Zone
4. North Zone
5. Central Zone

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Karnataka = South Zone.
Q18. Which zone covers Madhya Pradesh?

1. East Zone
2. West Zone
3. Central Zone
4. South Zone
5. North Zone

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: MP = Central Zone.
   Q19. Which zone covers Delhi?

1. North Zone
2. East Zone
3. West Zone
4. South Zone
5. Central Zone

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: Delhi is in North Zone.
   Q20. DGMS was originally set up in:

1. 1952
2. 1901
3. 1947
4. 1961
5. 1980

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: DGMS was founded in 1901 (Indian Mines Act 1901).
   Q21. Zonal offices are headed by:

1. DMS
2. Dy. DGMS
3. Manager
4. Inspector
5. Safety Officer

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Headed by Dy. DGMS.
Q22. Regional offices are responsible for:

1. Only admin
2. Only safety training
3. Local enforcement & inspections
4. Only medical
5. None

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: Regional offices handle local enforcement.
   Q23. Which circular reorganised DGMS zones in 2023?

1. Genl. Circular No. 1 of 2023
2. Tech Circular 2 of 2023
3. SOMA Circular 3 of 2023
4. Legis Circular 4 of 2023
5. None

✅ Answer: 1
Solution: General Circular 01 of 2023.
Q24. Number of regional offices under each zone varies based on:

1. Coal production
2. Mineral distribution & workload
3. Manpower
4. Safety conferences
5. None

✅ Answer: 2
Solution: Distribution depends on mineral activity & workload.
Q25. Main benefit of 2023 reorganisation is:

1. Privatization of DGMS
2. Fewer inspections
3. Better efficiency & safety coverage
4. Reduced budget
5. None

✅ Answer: 3
Solution: It improves efficiency & safety enforcement. ✅ Memory Hack:
👉 “1 = First Map” → Circular 1 of 2023 reorganised DGMS zones & regions map.