Under the Constitution of India, safety, welfare and health of workers employed in mines are the concern of the Central Government (Entry 55- Union List- Article 246). The objective is regulated by the Mines Act, 1952 and the Rules and Regulations framed thereunder which are administered by the Directorate- General of Mines Safety (DGMS), under the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment.
A list of the subordinate legislation under the Mines Act administered by DGMS are:
1) Coal Mines Regulations, 1957.
2) Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961.
3) Oil Mines Regulations, 1984.
4) Mines Rules, 1955.
5) Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966.
6) Mines Rescue Rules, 1985.
7) Mines Creche Rules, 1966.