**Executive Summary**
This document is a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs in response to a starred question in Lok Sabha regarding fire safety provisions under the National Building Code (NBC). The statement, dated February 10, 2026, clarifies the roles of the Central and State Governments in fire safety and outlines initiatives for strengthening fire services across the country. A key initiative is a scheme with a central outlay of Rs. 5,000 Crore for expansion and modernization of fire services in the states.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Division of Responsibilities:**
* Fire Services is a State subject and a Municipal function as per the Constitution of India.
* State Governments have the primary responsibility for strengthening Fire Services and averting fire incidents.
* The Central Government advises and supports State Governments in policy matters related to fire safety.
* Central Government does not maintain data about fire accidents.
* **National Building Code (NBC):**
* The Bureau of Indian Standards published the NBC 2016, which provides detailed guidelines for construction, maintenance, and fire safety.
* NBC 2016 includes aspects like smoke management, periodic audits, electrical fire prevention, and building management systems.
* International best practices were considered in revising the fire safety chapter of the NBC 2016.
* **Model Building Bye Laws:**
* The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs framed Model Building Bye Laws 2016, to guide States/UTs in revising their own Building Bye Laws.
* These include a chapter on fire protection and safety requirements, prescribing norms and standards.
* Enforcement of these laws is the responsibility of the States/UTs.
* **Training and Capacity Building:**
* The National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur, conducts regular training for fire officers and offers a B.Tech degree in Fire Engineering.
* NFSC has trained 4049 Fire Services Officers and produced 329 B. Tech Engineers during the last five years.
* **Financial Support and Modernization:**
* The Fifteenth Finance Commission recommended a provision of Rs. 5000 crore for strengthening fire services at the State level.
* The Central Government launched a “Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States” with a total central outlay of Rs. 5,000 Crore from 04.07.2023.
* The scheme includes setting up new fire stations, strengthening training centers, providing modern equipment, and technological upgradation.
* **Enforcement and Accountability:**
* Enforcement of fire safety regulations, inspections, and penalties are governed by State Fire Service Acts/Rules and local statutory provisions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for strengthening and equipping Fire Services and averting fire incidents within their jurisdiction. Expected to revise Building Bye Laws based on the Model Building Bye Laws 2016.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the "Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States" to set up new fire stations, strengthen training centers, and improve fire-fighting capabilities. They are to ensure the effective enforcement of fire safety regulations, inspections, and accountability through State Fire Service Acts/Rules and local provisions.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for framing Model Building Bye Laws to ensure a baseline of fire safety regulations.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor the implementation of the Model Building Bye Laws by the States/UTs and provide necessary support.
**Stakeholder: Bureau of Indian Standards**
* **Impact:** Sets the detailed guidelines for construction, maintenance and fire safety.
* **Action Required:** Continue to review and update NBC with international best practices and incorporate emerging technologies in fire safety.
**Stakeholder: National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur**
* **Impact:** Plays a crucial role in training and developing the capacity of fire service personnel.
* **Action Required:** Continue to conduct regular training in advanced firefighting and rescue techniques.
**Stakeholder: Central Government**
* **Impact:** Central government provides policy support.
* **Action Required:** Continue to advise and support State Governments in prevention and fire safety measures.
Key Entities Referenced
National Building Code (NBC) 2016: A comprehensive set of guidelines for construction, maintenance, and fire safety published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Ministry of Home Affairs: The central government ministry responsible for addressing the Lok Sabha question related to fire safety provisions.
Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States: A central government initiative aimed at strengthening fire services at the state level.
National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur: A college that provides training in firefighting and rescue techniques.
States/Union Territories: Locations where enforcement of fire safety regulations is primarily the responsibility of State Governments, including the strengthening and equipping of Fire Services.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *143
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 21, 1947 (SAKA)
FIRE SAFETY PROVISIONS UNDER NATIONAL BUILDING CODE
*143. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:
SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether any review or assessment has been conducted on the
effectiveness of fire safety provisions under Part 4 (Fire & Life Safety) of the
National Building Code (NBC) 2016, particularly in hospitals, commercial
complexes, industrial units, and residential buildings;
(b) if so, the details and findings thereof during the last five years, State and
year-wise;
(c) the total number and causes of fire-related incidents and fatalities
reported including smoke inhalation, electrical faults, flammable materials
and negligence during the last five years, State-wise;
(d) the number of buildings audited for fire safety annually and the proportion
found non-compliant or partially compliant during the said period;
(e) whether the Government proposes to incorporate provisions for smoke
management systems, periodic audits, electrical fire prevention and digital
compliance tracking in future revisions of the NBC;
(f) whether NBC standards have been benchmarked with international fire
safety norms and gaps identified; and
(g) the steps taken to strengthen accountability, enforcement, inspections
and penalties by States and local bodies?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (g): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.-2-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *143 FOR 10.02.2026
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.
143* FOR ANSWER IN LOK SABHA ON 10.02.2026
Fire Services is a State subject and has been included as a Municipal function
in the XII Schedule of the Constitution of India under Article 243 (W). It is the
primary responsibility of the State Governments to take necessary measures
for strengthening and equipping Fire Services and to avert the fire incidences
in the area of their jurisdiction.
Role of Central Government is to advise and support in policy matters to State
Governments for undertaking prevention and fire safety measures. The
Central Government does not maintain data related to fire accidents /
incidents in the States and the buildings audited centrally. However, as per
the data reported by the States/Union Territories to National Crime Record
Bureau (NCRB) during 2023, a total of 7,054 cases of fire accidents were
reported in the country which rendered 6,891 deaths and injuries to 284
persons.
Bureau of Indian Standards had published National Building Code of India
(NBC), 2016. It covers the detailed guidelines for construction, maintenance
and fire safety of the structures. The current version of the NBC, 2016
includes the aspects regarding smoke management, periodic audits,
electrical fire prevention, building management system, sensors for-3-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *143 FOR 10.02.2026
firefighting and fire prevention, etc. The international best practices in
building construction including fire safety were also considered in revising
the respective chapter of NBC, 2016.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have framed Model Building Bye
Laws 2016, for guiding the States / UTs for revising their respective Building
Bye Laws. It also contains a Chapter on fire protection and fire safety
requirements which prescribes the norms and standards for fire protection.
Its effective enforcement is in the domain of the States / UTs.
National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur conducts regular training in
advanced techniques of firefighting and rescue etc. for Sub Fire Officers,
Station Officers and Divisional Officers. The College also conducts a four-year
B.Tech. degree program in science of Fire Engineering which is recognized
by AICTE and affiliated to R.T.M. Nagpur University. NFSC, Nagpur has trained
4049 Fire Services Officers and produced 329 B. Tech Engineers during last
five years.
Recognizing the need for expansion and modernization of fire services in the
States, Fifteenth Finance Commission recommended a provision of Rs. 5000
crore for strengthening the fire services at a state level. The Central
Government has launched a “Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire-4-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *143 FOR 10.02.2026
Services in the States” on 04.07.2023 from the Preparedness and Capacity
Building Funding Window under the National Disaster Response Fund for
strengthening fire services in the States with a total Central outlay of Rs.
5,000 Crore.
The measures included in the scheme provides setting up of new fire stations,
strengthening of State Training Centres and capacity building, provisions for
modern fire-fighting equipment, strengthening of State Headquarters and
Urban Fire Stations, technological upgradation and installation and
augmentation of online system etc.
Enforcement of fire safety regulations, inspections, accountability
mechanisms and penalties are also governed by the respective State Fire
Service Acts/Rules and local statutory provisions.
*******