DGMS (Tech) Circular 15 of 2026 — Guidelines for handling and use of e-Exploders in underground mines

Summary

Addressed to all mine owners, agents and managers. An electronic exploder is the device, or set of devices, that provides logging, continuity testing and blasting functions with the authorisation needed for safe use, and is used exclusively to communicate with electronic detonators over a protocol compatible only with a corresponding type of detonator built on the same system architecture. Standards for the e-Detonator were notified as IS 18462:2023 and for the e-Exploder as IS 19359:2026, with testing standards for permitted e-Exploders notified through DGMS (Tech.)/S&T/Circular (Approval) No. 7 of 14 August 2026. The circular requires the e-Exploder to be uniform in design and construction and to conform strictly to IS 19359:2026 with no deviation from the design parameters, and sets out the technical specifications, compliance requirements and handling guidelines for use in underground mines.