The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), on July 10, 2026, notified the qualification, training, and experience requirements for instructors and trainers of Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) under Rule 169 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026. The standards apply to VTCs established under Rule 163 to meet the training requirements of coal, metalliferous, and oil mines.
The notification prescribes minimum eligibility criteria for mining, mechanical, and electrical instructors, including specified educational qualifications, competency certificates, and at least five years of relevant mining or oilfield experience. It also mandates that instructors complete a minimum five-day training programme covering instructional techniques, communication, hazard identification, risk assessment, safety procedures, and regulatory awareness, followed by periodic refresher training every three years.
The notification further lays down the eligibility criteria for trainers, including minimum age, work experience, technical qualifications, and mandatory training in site-specific operations, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety practices, and practical instruction. These standards are intended to ensure uniform competency and effective vocational training for persons employed in mines.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 622(E)]
