India Moves to Automate Explosives Manufacturing Amid Rising Safety Concerns

India is moving towards greater automation in explosives manufacturing as the government seeks to strengthen industrial safety and prevent deadly accidents in a sector that remains critical to mining, infrastructure and defence activities. The push comes in the wake of recent factory explosions, including a tragic blast in Maharashtra that exposed the risks associated with manual handling of explosive materials.

Speaking at an awareness workshop organised by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) in Nagpur, Dr Kajal , Joint Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) , said the government is exploring ways to automate critical manufacturing processes while tightening safety compliance across the industry.

The remarks assume significance following the March 2026 explosion at the SBL Energy detonator assembly unit in Nagpur district's Katol tehsil, where 19 workers lost their lives and 23 others were injured . The incident renewed concerns about workplace safety in explosives manufacturing, one of the country's most hazardous industrial sectors.

According to Dr Kajal, safety is a shared responsibility between regulators and licence holders. While manufacturing licences are issued only after rigorous scrutiny of infrastructure, safety systems and operational standards, strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) remains essential for preventing accidents.

Officials believe automation can significantly reduce risks by limiting human involvement in sensitive operations such as explosive mixing, detonator assembly, packaging and material handling. Industry experts note that many accidents occur due to friction, impact, static electricity, equipment malfunction or procedural lapses during manual operations.

As part of its modernisation efforts, DPIIT and PESO are encouraging the adoption of electronic detonators , which provide greater precision and traceability than conventional systems. The technology enables authorities and operators to track the timing and location of detonations more accurately, improving both safety monitoring and post-incident investigations.

Dr Kajal said the government had already strengthened safety norms in 2025 and is continuing efforts to identify manufacturing stages where automation can be introduced. At the same time, DPIIT is increasing manpower within PESO, with additional positions sanctioned and recruitment currently underway to improve inspections, compliance monitoring and capacity-building initiatives.

With plans to develop 100 investment-ready industrial parks under the BHAVYA initiative, the government is seeking to balance rapid industrial expansion with stronger safety standards, ensuring that economic growth is accompanied by responsible and sustainable manufacturing practices.