**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified the Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules, 2026, to amend the existing 2012 regulatory framework. These rules, effective from their publication date of July 24, 2026, introduce specific requirements for transport licensing and expand the definitions of accountable personnel. The notification follows a public consultation period initiated in February 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Transport Licensing Requirements (Rule 21)**
* Ammonium Nitrate or Ammonium Nitrate melt must only be transported by a consignor or consignee who possesses a valid license in Form P-4.
* Any vehicle used for transport must operate under the authority of the transport license held by the consignor or the consignee.
* Responsibility and terminology regarding transport have been updated to include "the consignee" alongside "the consignor" where applicable.
* **Expanded Accountability (Rule 38)**
* The scope of accountable individuals under Rule 38, clause (e), is broadened by inserting the term "or occupier" following the mention of "office-bearers."
**Impact Analysis**
**Consignors and Consignees of Ammonium Nitrate**
**Impact**
Both parties are now recognized as authorized transporters, provided they hold the requisite P-4 licensing. This clarifies that transport responsibility can rest with either the sender or the receiver.
**Action Required**
They must ensure they hold a valid Form P-4 license before initiating transport and verify that all transport vehicles are operating under the strength of their specific transport license.
**Occupiers of Premises**
**Impact**
The amendment explicitly includes "occupiers" within the regulatory scope of Rule 38, placing them on the same level of accountability as office-bearers.
**Action Required**
Occupiers must ensure compliance with the provisions of the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, as they are now specifically named as responsible entities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules, 2026: The specific regulatory updates being notified, primarily concerning the transportation and licensing requirements for ammonium nitrate.
Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012: The principal legislative framework governing the handling and regulation of ammonium nitrate which is being amended by this notification.
Explosives Act, 1884: The parent legislation under which the Central Government exercises powers to regulate substances like ammonium nitrate, specifically under Sections 5, 7, and 18.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): The nodal department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for the administration and notification of these rules.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-28072026-274887
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D8H0x7x2x0 26-274887
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 597] नई दिल्ली, िुक्रवार, िुलाई 24, 2026/श्रावण 2, 1948 26/पौष 17, 1947
No. 597] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026/SHRAVAN 2, 1948 /PAUSHA 17, 1947
वाजणज्य और उद्योग मत्रं ालय
(उद्योग और आतं ररक व्यापार सवं र्द्नध जवभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 16 िुलाई, 2026
सा.का.जन. 659(अ).— जवस्ट्फोटक अजधजनयम, 1884 (1884 का 4) की धारा 18 की उपधारा (1) के अधीन
यथापेजित अमोजनयम नाइरेट जनयम, 2012 का और संिोधन करने के जलए प्रारुप जनयम, भारत सरकार के वाजणज्य और
उद्योग मंत्रालय (उद्योग और आंतररक व्यापार संवर्द्नध जवभाग ) की अजधसूचना द्वारा भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग
2, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) म ें संखयांक सा.का.जन 104 (अ), तारीख 3 फरवरी, 2026 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए थ,े जिसम ें उक्त
अजधसूचना को अंतर्वधष्ट करन े वाली रािपत्र की प्रजतयां िनता को उपलब्ध कराए िान े की तारीख स े तीस दिन की अवजध
के अवसान स े पूव ध उससे प्रभाजवत होने वाले सभी संभाव्य व्यजक्तयों स ेआिेप और सुझाव आमंजत्रत दकए गए थ;े
और, उक्त अजधसूचना की प्रजतयां 4 फरवरी, 2026 को िनता को उपलब्ध करा िी गई थीं;
और उक्त प्रारूप जनयमों के संबंध म ें िनता स े प्राप्त आिेपों और सुझावों पर केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा जवचार दकया
गया ह ै।
अतः, अब केंद्रीय सरकार, जवस्ट्फोटक अजधजनयम, 1884 (1884 का 4) की धारा 5 और धारा 7 द्वारा प्रित्त
िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करते हुए, अमोजनयम नाइरेट जनयम, 2012 का और संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती
ह,ै अथाधत ् :-
1. सजं िप्त नाम और प्रारंभ.- (1) इन जनयमों का संजिप्त नाम अमोजनयम नाइरेट (संिोधन) जनयम, 2026 ह ै।
5660 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
(2) य े रािपत्र म ें उनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवृत्त होंगे।
2. अमोजनयम नाइरेट जनयम, 2012 म ें(जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात् उक्त जनयम कहा गया ह)ै के जनयम 21 म,ें -
(क) उपजनयम (1) के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत उपजनयम रखा िाएगा, अथाधत ् :-
“(1) अमोजनयम नाइरेट या अमोजनयम नाइरेट द्रवीभूत, परेषक या परेजषती जिनके पास प्ररुप त-4 म ें जवजधमान्य अनज्ञु जप्त
ह,ै द्वारा पहुचं ाया िाएगा ।
(1क) यदि कोई पररवहन यान अमोजनयम नाइरेट के पररवहन के जलए परेषक या परेजषती द्वारा उपयोग दकया िाता ह,ै तो
यह यथाजस्ट्थजत परेषक या परेजषती के पररवहन अनुज्ञजप्त के सामर्थय ध पर पहुचं ाया िाएगा ।”;
(ख) उपजनयम (6) म ें“परेषक” िब्ि के स्ट्थान पर “यथाजस्ट्थजत, परेषक या परेजषती” िब्ि रखे िाएंगे ।
3. उक्त जनयमों म ें जनयम 38 के, खंड (ड.) म ें “कायाधलय-वाहक” िब्ि के पश्चात ् “या अजधभोगी” िब्ि अतं :स्ट्थाजपत दकए
िाएंगे ।
[फा. स.ं P-13012/2/2021-जवस्ट्फोटक]
डॉ. कािल, संयुक्त सजचव
रटप्पण :- मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखडं (i) म ेंसंखयांक 553 (अ) तारीख 11 िुलाई,
2012 द्वारा प्रकाजित हुए थ ेऔर तत्पश्चात ् जनम्नानुसार संिोजधत दकए गए थ े:-
1. सा.का.जन. 469 (अ), तारीख 9 िुलाई, 2013;
2. सा.का.जन. 938 (अ), तारीख 28 जसतंबर, 2018;
3 सा.का.जन. 608(अ), तारीख 1 जसतंबर, 2021;
4 सा.का.जन. 239 (अ), तारीख 17 अप्रैल, 2025; और
5 सा.का.जन. 377 (अ), तारीख 9 िून, 2025;
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 16th July 2026
G.S.R. 659(E).— Whereas, the draft rules further to amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, were
published, as required under sub-section (1) of section 18 of the Explosives Act, 1884 (4 of 1884), vide notification of
the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade), vide number G.S.R 104(E), dated the 3rd February, 2026, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part
II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby before
the expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing the said notification
were made available to the public;
And whereas, copies of the said Gazette notification were made available to the public on 4th February, 2026;
And whereas, the objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft rules have
been considered by the Central Government;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 5 and 7 of the Explosives Act, 1884 (4 of
1884), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules,
2012, namely: -[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
1. Short title and commencement - (1) These rules may be called the Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules,
2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 21, –
(a) for sub-rule (1), the following sub-rules shall be substituted, namely: –
“(1) The Ammonium Nitrate or Ammonium Nitrate melt shall be transported by the consignor or
consignee holding a valid licence in Form P-4.
(1A) If a transport vehicle is used by the consignor or the consignee for transport of Ammonium
Nitrate, it shall be transported on the strength of the transport licence of the consignor or the
consignee, as the case may be.”;
(b) in sub-rule (6), for the words “The consignor”, the words “The consignor or the consignee, as the case
may be,” shall be substituted.
3. In the said rules, in rule 38, in clause (e), after the word “office-bearers”, the words “or occupier” shall be
inserted.
[F. No. P-13012/2/2021-EXPLOSIVE]
DR. KAJAL, Jt. Secy.
Note: The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide
number G.S.R. 553(E), dated the 11th July, 2012 and were subsequently amended as follows: –
1. G.S.R. 469(E), dated the 9th July, 2013;
2. G.S.R. 938(E), dated the 28th September, 2018;
3. G.S.R. 608(E), dated the 1st September, 2021;
4. G.S.R. 239(E), dated the 17th April, 2025; and
5. G.S.R. 377(E), dated the 9th June, 2025;
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.