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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-03092026-275979
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 713]
NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026/BHADRA 12, 1948
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 3rd August, 2026
G.S.R. 781(E). — The following draft of certain rules further to amend the Petroleum Rules, 2002 which the
Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by section 4 and sub-sections (2) and (3) of
section 29 of the Petroleum Act, 1934 (30 of 1934), is hereby published for information of all persons likely to be
affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said draft shall be taken into consideration on or after the expiry of
a period of thirty days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette of India containing the draft rules are made
available to the public;
Objections and suggestions which may be received from any person within the period specified above will be
considered by the Central Government.
The objections and suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Joint Secretary (M&OR), Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas, New Delhi-110001 or sent by email at: [email protected].
Draft Rules
1. These rules may be called the Petroleum (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
2. In the Petroleum Rules, 2002,-
(1) in rule 2, in sub-rule (1),-
(a) after clause (x), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
"(xa) "District Fire Officer" means the officer designated by the State Government to be in charge of the Fire
and Emergency Services for a district, by whatever name called, and includes any officer authorised by the
State Government to perform the functions of the District Fire Officer;"
(b) in clause (xvia), after the words, “marking as per”, the words and figures, “ISO 1496 or” shall be inserted;
(2) in rule 13,-
(a) in sub-rule (3), after word, "paid", words, "through e-payment or" shall be inserted;
(b) in sub-rule (4),-
i. in clause (i), in sub-clause (a), for the words, “if the fee has been paid in cash or by bank draft",
words "in the same manner as that of receipt of fees” shall be substituted;
ii. in clause (ii), for the words, “preferably within six months of the realization", words “within two
months of the rejection" shall be substituted;
(3) For rule 14A, the following rule shall be substituted, namely: -
"14A. Import and transport of ISO tank containers. -
(1) No person shall import any ISO tank container filled or intended to be filled with petroleum without
obtaining import permission from the Chief Controller or Controller.
(2) Any person seeking import permission under sub-rule (1) shall submit an application in FORM VII (A)
through the online licensing portal of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation to the Chief Controller
or Controller along with the following documents, namely: -
(a) valid license issued in FORM XV having adequate capacity to accommodate the whole contents of the
ISO tank container;
(b) manufacturer's inspection, test reports and design drawings showing design details, water capacity of the
tank, its fittings and particulars of specifications of the materials of construction of the ISO tank container
duly certified by TPIA;
(c) periodic inspection and testing including Hydro Test Certificate and Container Safety Certificate issued
by TPIA;
(d) mounting drawing for transportation by road duly approved by the Chief Controller or Controller;
(e) safe operating procedure for handling and transportation of the ISO tank container from the port of import
to the end-use location;
(f) self-declaration for the approximate date of return of ISO tank container after unloading or its retention
in India on a permanent basis;
(g) scrutiny fees as provided in PART C of the FIRST SCHEDULE.
(3) On receipt of complete application and on being satisfied, the Chief Controller or Controller shall grant
import permission valid for a maximum period of three years in the format as may be prescribed by the Chief
Controller.
Provided that where an application for grant of permission to import ISO Tank Container in India
under this Rule and permission to transport Petroleum Class A or Class B in bulk by road in ISO Tank Container
within Indian territory under Rule 75 (3) is made simultaneously, the Chief Controller or Controller on being
satisfied with the requirements of Rule 14A and 75(3), shall grant a combined permission in the format as may
be prescribed by the Chief Controller to import ISO Tank Container in India and to transport Petroleum Class
A or Class B in bulk by road in ISO Tank Container within Indian territory valid for a maximum period of
three years.
(4) Where an application is made under this rule is complete in all respects and is accompanied by all the
documents specified therein, and no deficiency or written objection is communicated through the online
licensing portal within seven working days from the date of submission of the application, the permission shall
be deemed to have been granted on the expiry of the said period.";
(4) in rule 75,-
(a) in sub-rule (3), for the word, “one”, word “three” shall be substituted;
(b) after sub-rule (4), the following sub-rules shall be inserted, namely: -
“(5) Where the periodic test/Hydro Test Certificate of ISO Tank Container remains valid, permission
granted under sub-rule (3) may be extended by the Chief Controller or Controller for a maximum period
up to three years or till the validity of the certificate, whichever is earlier, on an online declaration along
with copy of periodic inspection and testing including Hydro Test Certificate and Container Safety
Certificate issued by TPIA.
(6) Nothing in this rule shall apply to multimodal transportation of petroleum Class A or B in ISO tank
container imported for one time use and return to the country of origin after filling or after decantation
provided the following conditions are fulfilled:
(i) upon mounting of the ISO tank container in trailer chassis, the stability of the vehicle shall be
ensured.
(ii) Registered laden weight or gross vehicle weight or gross combined weight of the vehicle chassis
shall not exceed the registered laden weight of the vehicle complying with the applicable provisions
of the Motor Vehicle Act. The laden weight on each axel shall be within the maximum allowable
load bearing capacity of each axel as mentioned in ARAI certificate or equivalent.
(iii) Only single ISO tank container filled with petroleum shall be mounted on a vehicle during
transportation.
(iv) The precautions specified in SIXTH SCHEDULE shall be complied during transportation of
petroleum in ISO tank container carrying vehicle by road.";
(5) in rule 106,-
(a) in sub-rule (1), after the letters and figures “IS/IEC 60079-26", the sign and words "(for Equipment with
Separation Elements or combined Levels of Protection)" shall be inserted;
(b) in sub-rule (3A), after the words "Chief Controller," the words and figures "or as per sub-rule (1), (2) and
(3) of this rule." shall be inserted;
(c) in sub-rule (4), in clause (i), the words “all necessary drawings,” shall be omitted;
(6) in rule 143, in sub-rule (1), for words “in writing", words "through the online licensing portal of the Petroleum
and Explosives Safety Organisation" shall be substituted;
(7) For rule 144, the following rule shall be substituted, namely: -
"144. No-Objection Certificate.-
(1) Where the licensing authority is the Chief Controller or the Controller, as the case may be, an applicant for
a new licence other than a licence in Forms III, XI, XVII, XVIII, or XIX shall apply to the District Fire Officer
with two copies of the site-plan duly certified by a registered architect conforming to the applicable land use,
building bye-laws and other statutory requirements, showing the location of the premises proposed to be
licensed for a certificate to the effect that there is no objection, to the applicant receiving a licence for the site
proposed and District Fire Officer shall, if he sees no objection, grant such certificate to the applicant who shall
forward it to the licensing authority with his application in Form IX, accompanied by a copy of the legal opinion
issued by an advocate regarding the validity of the applicant's title to, or lawful possession of, the land on which
the premises proposed to be licensed is situated.
(2) Every certificate issued by the District Fire Officer under sub-rule (1) shall be accompanied by a copy of
the plan of the proposed site duly endorsed by him under his official seal.
(3) The Chief Controller or the Controller as the case may be, may refer an application not accompanied by
certificate granted under sub-rule (1) to the District Fire Officer for his observations.
(4) If the District Fire Officer, either on a reference being made to him or otherwise, intimates to the Chief
Controller or the Controller as the case may be, that any licence which has been applied for should not, in his
opinion, be granted, such licence shall not be issued without the sanction of the Central Government.
(5) The District Fire Officer shall complete his inquiry for issuing NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE (NOC)
under sub-rule (1) and shall complete the action for issue or refusal of the NOC, as the case may be, as
expeditiously as possible but not later than one month form the date of receipt of application by him.
(6) Where the location of storage of petroleum is within the notified area of a Port or Airport or Railways
under the control of the State, or establishment of Indian Space Research Organisation or Department of
Atomic Energy, NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE from the District Fire Officer referred to in sub-rules (1) to
(5) shall be required.
Provided that consent for establishment of petroleum storage from the competent authority of
concerned notified areas or head of the establishment, as the case may be, is obtained.
(7) District Fire Officer shall issue a no objection certificate in the following proforma, namely: -
Proforma No Objection Certificate
[See rule 144]
No..
Date.
Subject: No objection certificate
With reference to the application No........ dated
submitted by.............and in pursuance of
rule 144 of the Petroleum Rules, 2002, there is no objection for granting licence under the Petroleum Rules,
2002 to Shri/Smt./M/s....
address..
for storage of petroleum products in
their premises at Survey No........../Gata No............, Khasra No..................Plot
No........../Village..
Taluka/Tehsil..
District.State...
...a
s shown in the site plan duly endorsed and enclosed herewith.
The following particulars have been considered while issuing this no-objection certificate, that-
(a) accessibility of the site to the fire tenders in case of emergency; and
(b) preparedness of fire services for combating the emergencies.
Signature of the District Fire Officer issuing no objection certificate with his office seal
Note: The licensing authority shall accept the no objection certificate within a period of three years from the
date of its issue for considering the grant of licence.";
(8) in rule 149, for words, "District Authority", the words, "District Fire Officer" shall be substituted;
(9) in rule 150,-
(a) for sub-rule (1), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely :-
"(1) A no-objection certificate granted under rule 144 shall be liable to be cancelled by the District Fire
Officer or the state Government, if the District Fire Officer or the state Government is satisfied, that
condition specified in the no-objection certificate has been contravened:
Provided that before cancelling a no-objection certificate, the licensee shall be given a reasonable
opportunity of being heard.";
(b) in sub-rule (2), for words, “District Authority”, the words, “District Fire Officer” shall be substituted;
(10) in rule 152, in sub-rule (1), in clause (ii), for words, "District Authority", the words, "District Fire Officer"
shall be substituted;
(11) in rule 157, sub-rule (2) shall be omitted;
(12) in FIRST SCHEDULE, in PART C FEE OTHER THAN LICENCE FEE, in Sl. No. 9, in column (2), after the
words, "Electric Apparatus", the words, "including variants" shall be inserted;
(13) in SECOND SCHEDULE,-
(a) for FORM VII A, the following FORM shall be substituted, namely: -
"FORM VII A
[See rules 14A and 75(3)]
Application for the grant of permission to import ISO tank container in India or/and transport Petroleum
Class A or Class B in bulk by road in ISO tank container within Indian territory:
1. Name in which permission is required:
(i) Applicant's name
(ii) Applicant's full postal address
(iii) Contact Number and E-mail
2. Particulars of storage licence held by the applicant in FORM XV under the Petroleum Rules, 2002:
(i) Number and date of storage licence issued by the Chief Controller/Controller
(ii) License valid up to
(iii) Licensed Capacity for different Class of petroleum
3. Description of the ISO tank container:
(i) Owner's code and serial number
(ii) Manufacturer's serial number
(iii) Model number
(iv) Country of manufacture
(v) Year of manufacture
(vi) Approval country
(vii) Authorised body for design approval
(viii) Specification of ISO tank container and ISO tank container framework
(ix) Name of manufacturer
(x) Maximum allowable working pressure
(xi) Test pressure
(xii) Initial pressure test date
(xiii) Design temperature range
(xiv) Material of construction
(xv) Water capacity of the ISO tank container
(xvi) Unladen tare weight of ISO tank container
(xvii) Payload of the petroleum product
(xviii) Inspected and tested by
(xix) Specification of the safety fittings fitted to the ISO tank container including operating
parameters
(xx) Design drawing
(xxi) Mounting drawing
(xxii) *Filled with
(xxiii) True chemical name and class of petroleum
(xxiv) Quantity of Petroleum filled or intended to be filled in the ISO tank container in kilolitre
and also in percentage
(xxv) Date of last hydraulic test
4. Make and model of the vehicle chassis to be used for ISO tank container mounting:
i. Gross laden weight or gross vehicle weight or gross combined weight of the vehicle chassis
ii. Unladen weight of vehicle chassis with trailer
5. Name of the port of import or place of loading
6. Remarks:
I/We declare that the particulars given above have been checked up by me/us and are correct.
I/We undertake of transport petroleum in ISO tank container particulars of which are given above, in
accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Act, 1934, and the rules framed thereunder and any other
law or rules for the time being in force. I/We understand that any contravention of the said Act and the
Rules framed thereunder is punishable for the first offence with simple imprisonment which may extend
to one month or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both and for every subsequent
offence with simple imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to
five thousand rupees or with both.
Date of
application
Signature of applicant
Postal address of the applicant
Documents required to be submitted with this application-
(1) a scrutiny fee of Rs. 5000 for grant of import permission for ISO tank container or/and Rs. 5000 for
transport of petroleum Class A or Class B in bulk by road in ISO tank container within Indian territory, as
applicable;
(2) valid licence issued in FORM XV having adequate capacity to accommodate whole contents of the
ISO tank container;
(3) manufacturer's inspection and test reports of the ISO tank container duly certified by the TPIA;
(4) periodic inspection and testing including hydro test certificate and Container Safety Certificate issued
by TPIA;
(5) design drawing showing the design details of the ISO tank container, water capacity of the tank, its
fittings and particulars of specifications of the materials used in construction thereof duly certified by
TPIA;
(6) approved detailed vehicle mounting drawing for transportation by road duly approved by the Chief
Controller;
(7) Safe operating procedure for handling and transportation of the ISO tank container from the port of
import to the end-use location;
(8) self-declaration for the approximate date of return of ISO tank container after unloading or its retention
in India on a permanent basis.";
(b) in FORM IX, in Documents required to be submitted with this application for a Licence in Forms XIV,
XV, XVI or in special Forms,-
i. in Sl. No. (iii), for words, "District Authority", the words, "District Fire Officer" shall be
substituted;
ii. after Sl. No. (vii), the following Sl. No. shall be inserted, namely:-
"(viii) copy of the legal opinion issued by an advocate regarding the validity of the
applicant's title to, or lawful possession of, the land on which the premises proposed to
be licensed is situated.";
(c) in FORM XVI, in condition 3), for the words "one half", words "one third" shall be substituted;
(14) after FIFTH SCHEDULE, the following schedule shall be inserted, namely: -
"SIXTH SCHEDULE
(See rule 75)
1. Only responsible persons who are conversant with Petroleum Rules shall be employed for driving the
licensed vehicle or attending to it.
2. The vehicle carrying Petroleum ISO container shall be constantly attended to by a responsible person and
by at least two persons while it is transporting petroleum.
3. Upon mounting of the ISO tank container in trailer chassis, the stability of the vehicle shall be ensured.
4. Provided that the ISO tank container vehicle may, if its tanks and compartments are empty, be left
unattended in a place approved for the purpose in writing, by the Chief Controller. The licensed vehicle
shall at all times carry
a. a portable fire extinguisher of capacity not less than 9 litres and suitable for extinguishing oil
fires. The extinguisher shall be kept unlocked at an easily accessible position which shall be away
from the discharge faucets of the vehicle.
b. A separate oil tight and electrically continuous hose for each class of petroleum it is carrying, the
hoses shall have at each end oil-light coupling to match the discharge faucet of the ISO tank
container vehicle and the inlet pipe into which the petroleum carried in the vehicles is to be
unloaded.
c. a strong and flexible cable for electrical bonding; the cable shall be at least 5 meters long and
shall have at each and a suitable clamp or clip.
5. The ISO tank container vehicle shall not be loaded or unloaded except in a place approved for the purpose,
in writing, by the Chief Controller: Provided that the ISO tank container vehicle may be unloaded at any
other place with all due precautions and under adequate supervision if such unloading is necessitated by
an accident or breakdown.
6. Petroleum carried in the ISO tank container shall not be directly transferred in to any container or into the
fuel tank of any motor conveyance or an internal combustion engine.
7. The ISO tank container shall not be loaded if any tank or compartment, pipe valve, emergency discharge
control or any safety fitting becomes leaky, defective or otherwise insecure until necessary repairs have
been carried out satisfactorily, and in the event of any leak in the tanks or compartments, until the leak is
thoroughly repaired and all the tanks or compartments pass the applicable tests.
8. Before petroleum is loaded into or unloaded from the ISO tank container vehicle
a. its engine shall be stopped and the battery shall be isolated by a proper switch or otherwise.
b. its wheels shall be secured by brakes or by scotching.
c. its chassis shall be electrically bonded by a cable with the pipe into or from which it is to be
unloaded or loaded;
d. the correct filling or discharge hose shall be selected and connected by oil-tight coupling at both
ends;
e. a responsible person shall be in attendance ad remain so until loading or unloading is over and
the tanks and compartments have been sealed.
9. Except when called upon the traffic signals or required by an Inspector or a Sampling Officer, the ISO
tank container vehicle shall not stop on any road, congested area or a place which is not a place approved
in writing, under these rules for loading, unloading or stabling of such vehicles.
10. No smoking and no fire or artificial light or any article capable of igniting inflammable vapour shall be
allowed on the ISO tank container vehicle.
11. The ISO tank container vehicle shall not be used for carrying passenger or any article other than petroleum.
12. The ISO tank container vehicle shall not be allowed to be repaired by welding, soldering, brazing, or hot
riveting until its tanks, compartments, pipes and valves have been thoroughly cleaned and examined by a
competent engineer and certified by him in writing to be free from inflammable vapour or oil.
13. No alteration in the ISO tank container or its safety fittings shall be carried out without the previous
sanction in writing of the Chief Controller of Explosives.
14. Every facility shall be given at all reasonable time to any inspector or sampling officer for ascertaining
that the rules and the conditions of this licence are duly observed or for drawing samples.
15. Any accident, fire or explosion occurring in the ISO tank container vehicle, which is attended with loss of
human life or serious injury to person or property shall be immediately reported to the nearest Magistrate
or to the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station having jurisdiction and by telephone/email to the
Chief Controller of Explosives.".
Note: The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, sub-section (i) vide
number G.S.R. 204(E), dated the 13th March, 2002 and last amended vide notification number G.S.R. 154(E),
dated the 4th March, 2024.
[F. No. 11011(21)/1/2021-Distt.-PNG]
RICHA, Under Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.
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