Parliament Question: Fire safety regulations in construction of buildings

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4039 ANSWERED ON 30/03/2026 FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS 4039. DR. LAXMIKANT BAJPAYEE: Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that most of the Indian buildings lack clear and accessible fire exit plans and fire safety is not taken seriously in the country due to lax and negligent attitude of authorities; (b) whether Government is aware that many buildings and other infrastructure projects are indiscriminately built without consideration of fire safety norms putting the lives of masses at greater risk; and (c) if so, the steps taken to improve and ensure thorough implementation of fire safety norms in construction of buildings in the country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU) (a) & (b): Fire prevention and fire safety fall within the domain of State Governments. As per entry 7 of Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution of India, ‘Fire Services’ is a function of Municipalities. Accordingly, enforcement of fire safety norms, approval of building plans, issuance of fire safety certificates, and compliance monitoring are undertaken by State Governments/Urban Local Bodies in accordance with the relevant Act/Statutes. However, in so far as organizations working under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) like National Buildings Construction Corporation (India) Limited and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) are concerned, they ensure strict compliance with the National Building Code (NBC) 2016 issued by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and applicable bye- laws/fire safety norms of concerned State Governments and local bodies in all their projects. (c): The Government of India has taken several measures to promote fire safety in buildings and provide financial assistance, which include: i. National Building Code (NBC): The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published NBC 2016, which provides comprehensive guidelines for building construction and maintenance. Part 4 of the NBC specifically deals with Fire and Life Safety, detailing provisions related to the fire exits, detection and suppression systems, structural safety, and evacuation requirements for different occupancies. NBC is advisory in nature and its implementation depends upon the state/local authorities as per their Act/Bye-laws/Regulations. …2/--2- ii. Model Building Bye-Laws (MBBL) 2016: MoHUA had published and circulated MBBL 2016 to all States/UTs, wherein Chapter-11 on “Fire Protection and Fire Safety Requirements” contains appropriate norms and standards for fire protection in buildings. This document is also advisory in nature. This becomes legally binding when States notify and mandate such compliance in their State/local Bye-laws. iii. Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards (DG FS, CD & HG) under Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, functions in an advisory capacity and provides technical guidance, model frameworks, and capacity-building support to States/UTs. The National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur provides training to build professional capacity in fire safety engineering, inspection and enforcement. The Directorate is also encouraging the development of digital platforms, fire service dashboards and data- driven monitoring systems to improve compliance tracking, incident reporting, and policy interventions. iv. Under the 15th Finance Commission recommendations, Grant-in-Aid has been extended to States for modernization and strengthening of fire services, including procurement of equipment and improvement of infrastructure, which enhances enforcement capabilities. *****