Gas Cylinders (Amendment) Rules, 2026

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, issued a draft notification on 3 February 2026 proposing amendments to the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 under the Explosives Act, 1884. The draft Gas Cylinders (Amendment) Rules, 2026 have been published for public consultation, with objections or suggestions invited within 30 days of publication in the Official Gazette. The proposed amendments seek to expand existing exemptions by expressly covering cylinders and valves imported by establishments of the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Space, and their public sector undertakings for their own use. The draft also proposes to exempt certain imports from landing permission requirements, specifically empty cylinders without valves, as well as valves and LPG regulators imported from foreign manufacturing plants approved by the Chief Controller and holding a valid Form-D import licence. Further, the scope of safety-related provisions is proposed to be widened by including “other flammable gases” alongside liquefied petroleum gas. The amendments will come into force upon final notification after consideration of stakeholder feedback.

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 3rd February, 2026

G.S.R.103(E).—The draft of the following rules to amend the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 which the Central Government proposes to make, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 5 and 7 of the Explosives Act, 1884 (4 of 1884), is hereby published as required by sub-section (1) of section 18 of the said Act, for information of all persons likely to be affected thereby; and notice is hereby given that the said draft shall be taken into consideration after Thirty (30) days from the date on which the copies of this notification as published in the Official Gazette are made available to the public;

Objections or suggestions, if any, to these draft rules may be sent to the Director (Explosives), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Room No. 252-A, Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi – 110001 or Email: expl-dipp@nic.in; within the period specified above.

The objections or suggestions which may be received from any person with respect to the said draft rules, within the period so specified will be considered by the Central Government.

1. Short title and commencement.—(1) These rules may be called the Gas Cylinders (Amendment) Rules, 2026.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as said rules), in the sub-rule 5 of rule 3, after the words, “touching Indian port” and before the words, “could be filled with such gas”, the words, “or cylinders and valves imported by establishments of Ministry of Defense, Department of Space and their Public Sector Undertakings for their own use,” shall be inserted.

3. In rule 32 of the said rules, after sub-rule 1, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: -“Provided that such landing permission shall not be required for (a) empty cylinders without valves (b) Valves and LPG regulators, imported from the foreign manufacturing plants approved by the Chief Controller and having valid import licence in Form-D.”, .

4. In rule 48 of the said rules, in clause (b) of sub-rule 3, after the words, “Liquified Petroleum Gas” and before the words, “in cylinders, the words, “or other flammable gases”, shall be inserted.

[F.No. P-13018/8/2025-EXPLOSIVE-Part(1)]
JAI PRAKASH SHIVAHARE, Jt. Secy.

Note: The principal rules were published in the official Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide notification number 1081(E) dated 22^nd November, 2016 and subsequently amended vide notification number G.S.R. 189(E) dated 27^th February, 2018, G.S.R. 231(E) dated 15^th March 2018, G.S.R. 44(E) dated 23^rd January, 2019, G.S.R. 44(E) dated 20^th January 2022, G.S.R. 225(E) dated 11^th April, 2025, G.S.R. 386(E), dated 16^th June, 2025, G.S.R. 501(E) dated 28^th July 2025 and G.S.R. 839(E) dated 12^th November, 2025.