Rules 163-166 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 163 to 166 say where mine training is delivered and who runs it. Every mine employer must provide and maintain a training centre, with limited room for common or outside centres, and every centre must be in the charge of a training officer whose appointment is reported within seven days.
Rule 163: the employer of every mine provides and maintains an adequate training centre; common centres and centres under other laws are possible with the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator's approval. Rule 164: staff, equipment and facilities are as the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator specifies by order. Rule 165: each centre has a training officer; every change in the post is reported within seven days. Rule 166: the officer's duties, with monthly reports to the mine manager and a yearly summary to the inspectorate.
Context
These rules sit in the mines training part of the OSH (Central) Rules, 2026, framed under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (the OSH Code). They follow the scheme and refresher rules explained in our rules 160-162 article. The Central Rules apply where the Central Government is the appropriate Government. Where the State Government is the appropriate Government, the State's own OSH rules apply.
For mine operators setting up or regularising a training centre, our labour law compliance team can map the centre, staffing and records to the rule text.
Rule 163: the training centre
| Sub-rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| 163(1) | The employer of every mine provides and maintains a training centre adequate for training persons employed or to be employed in the mine |
| Proviso | The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may, by order, for reasons recorded in writing and subject to conditions, authorise one common training centre for two or more mines of the same employer |
| 163(2) | The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may permit in writing, subject to conditions, a common centre owned and maintained by a group of employers for more than one mine |
| Proviso to (2) | The group nominates one of them to take the employer's responsibility for management, supervision, direction and control, and the nominated owner gives written notice to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and the Inspector-cum-Facilitator |
| 163(3) | Despite (1) and (2), the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may approve in writing a training centre established under any other law, if it has the infrastructure and facilities specified by general or special order |
| 163(4) | An application for approval under (3) is made in a proforma with a fee prescribed by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator, based on the recommendation of a committee constituted by that officer |
Three points stand out. The base duty is on the employer of each mine. The common-centre routes need permission or authorisation in writing, and conditions can be attached. And the approval route for a centre under another law carries a fee, but the rule does not state an amount; it is set by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator. The text does not name the proforma, so ask the inspectorate for the current one.
Rule 164: arrangements
Every training centre must have staff, equipment and other facilities "as specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator through general or special order issued from time to time". The Rules themselves give no list. The order is the checklist, and because it can be revised from time to time, a mine should hold the latest version and review the centre against it periodically.
Rule 165: the training officer
| Sub-rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| 165(1) | Every centre is placed in the charge of a training officer with qualification and experience as specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator by order |
| 165(2) | The owner or agent of the mine, or the owner of the common vocational training centre, appoints the training officer |
| Proviso | For a training centre, the person responsible for its management, control, supervision or direction (called the owner of approved training centre) appoints |
| 165(3) | If the officer cannot act through temporary absence, illness or other cause, the owner, agent or manager authorises in writing another person with similar qualifications |
| Proviso to (3) | No such authorisation lasts more than thirty days without the previous written consent of the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator, on conditions |
| 165(4) | Every appointment, authorisation, discharge, dismissal, resignation or termination of a training officer, with its date, is sent to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and the Inspector-cum-Facilitator within seven days |
The seven-day clock in sub-rule (4) covers both ends of the employment and also the temporary authorisation. A mine whose training officer resigns on the first of the month should have the intimation out by the eighth. The text does not say the form of intimation; a written letter with a date and acknowledgement is the safe route.
A drafting slip: the proviso to 165(2) uses "owner of approved training centre" as a defined short form for the person managing a training centre, while the main text of 165(2) speaks of the owner of a "common vocational training centre". Read together they describe the same appointing authority for a shared or approved centre.
Rule 166: duties of the training officer
Sub-rule (1) lists six duties:
- organise and supervise the training of every person undergoing training under the Rules;
- recognise current competency and prior learning in establishing training needs;
- ensure training follows the modules or curriculum prepared under the relevant training scheme for each category, and ensure instructors deliver lectures on standard course material;
- maintain records of training given to every person, and furnish monthly reports to the mine manager on the progress of persons undergoing training;
- maintain records of supervision of practical training on actual operations; and
- discharge other duties necessary for proper compliance with the Rules.
Sub-rule (2) adds a year-end duty: keep a record of work and, at the end of every year, forward a summary of the report of work during the year to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator or the Inspector-cum-Facilitator having jurisdiction over the centre, through the employer or the owner of the common centre.
Note that the training officer's monthly report goes to the mine manager, while the instructor's weekly report goes to the training officer under rule 170, explained in our rules 167-172 article. The chain of reports is weekly, monthly, annual.
Practical examples
Example 1. An employer runs three mines. It seeks a common centre for all three. The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may authorise it by an order with recorded reasons, subject to conditions.
Example 2. Four mine owners share a centre. They nominate one owner as responsible for management and control, and that owner gives written notice to the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator and the Inspector-cum-Facilitator.
Example 3. The training officer falls ill for six weeks. The manager may authorise a similarly qualified person in writing, but beyond thirty days the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator's prior written consent is needed.
Compliance checklist
- Hold the current orders on centre infrastructure and officer qualification.
- Keep written approvals, conditions and notices for common centres.
- Diarise the seven-day intimation for any change in the training officer.
- Collect weekly, monthly and annual training reports in one file.
Need help with a mine training centre?
Setting up or regularising a centre involves approvals, staffing, qualifications and records, all tied to orders that change over time. Our advisers can review where your centre stands against rules 163-166 and prepare the intimations and reports. Start with our labour law compliance service.
Key takeaways
- Every mine employer provides and maintains an adequate training centre; common centres need the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator's permission or authorisation.
- A centre under another law can be approved on application in a proforma with a fee set by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator.
- Staff, equipment and facilities follow the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator's orders.
- Every training officer change is reported within seven days; a stand-in cannot act beyond thirty days without prior written consent.
- The officer keeps records, reports monthly to the mine manager and yearly to the inspectorate.
Read next
- Rules 160-162: refresher arrangements, special training and training after absence
- Rules 167-172: instructors, trainers and training allowance
- Rules 173-176: training certificates, inspection and closure of training centre
- Mines Act safety provisions and DGMS
Disclaimer: Based on the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (as enacted) and, where noted, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026), as on 30 September 2026. The Code is in force from 21 November 2025; some provisions may be notified later, and State Governments make their own rules for establishments where the State is the appropriate Government. Verify the current position before acting.