Parliament Question: Training for Firefighters

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1739 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 21, 1947

(SAKA) TRAINING FOR FIREFIGHTERS

1739. SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has introduced any scheme for expansion, modernization and strengthening of fire services at National and State levels, with details of the funding pattern and present status;

(b) whether any scheme exists for capacity building and training of firefighters, including NDRF and SDRF personnel, with funds allocated, released and utilized and number of personnel trained during the last five years, year-wise and State/SDRF-wise;

(c) the total number of sanctioned firefighter posts in the country, existing vacancies, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government has formulated any policy for rehabilitation of fire victims and if so, the total compensation paid and number of beneficiaries; and

(e) the steps being taken to improve continuous compliance, monitoring and disaster preparedness at State and local levels? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (b): Recognizing the need for expansion and modernisation of fire services in the States, Fifteenth Finance Commission recommended a provision of Rs. 5000 crore for strengthening the fire services at a state-2- L.S.US.Q.NO. 1739 FOR 10.02.2026 level. Therefore, Central Government has launched the “Scheme for Expansion and Modernisation of Fire Services in the States” on

04.07.2023.

Under the Scheme, the concerned State Governments shall have to contribute 25% (except for North-Eastern and Himalayan (NEH) States which shall contribute 10%) of the total cost of the projects / proposals from their respective States resources. Under the Scheme, the States are undertaking expansion of Fire Services by setting up of new fire stations, strengthening of state training centres and capacity building of the firefighter, volunteers and community and modernisation of Fire Services by procuring modern firefightning equipment and strengthening of state headquarters and urban fire stations. Under the Scheme, 5% of the total allocation of fund have been earmarked for the Strengthening of State Training Centre and Capacity Building.

Central Government has approved the proposals of all twenty- eight (28) states for financial assistance for their projects on expansion and modernisation of fire services in the respective States under the Scheme. As on 31.01.2026, a total of Rs.1798.20 crore has been released-3- L.S.US.Q.NO. 1739 FOR 10.02.2026 to the States. The State-wise details of the funds approved and released by the Central Government under the Scheme are at Annexure.

National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur conducts regular training in advanced techniques of firefightning 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.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Nagpur also conducts a course on “Auxiliary Fire Fighting Course” for personnel of the Armed Forces, civil defence trainers and Homeguards, paramilitary organizations, state / municipal fire services and industrial safety personnel.

(c) to (e) : Fire Service 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). The Central Government does not maintain any State-wise-4- L.S.US.Q.NO. 1739 FOR 10.02.2026 data related to sanctioning of firefighters posts, vacancies etc. It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments to take necessary steps required for rehabilitation of fire victims in the area of their jurisdictions.

Disaster preparedness is a continuous process. Government of India with its continuous efforts has significantly improved its preparedness to deal with disaster calamities. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides the need for mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into development planning. There have been significant improvements in multi-hazard monitoring and preparedness in recent years.

******Annexure L.S.US.Q.NO. 1739 FOR 10.02.2026 State-wise details of the approved financial outlay and released under the Scheme (Rupees in crores) Sl. List of States Approved Central State Fund No Share Share released 1 Andhra Pradesh 252.86 189.65 63.21 132.76 2 Arunachal 63.95 57.56 6.39 34.54 Pradesh 3 Assam 107.47 96.74 10.73 29.02 4 Bihar 340.90 255.68 85.22 76.70 5 Chhattisgarh 147.75 110.81 36.94 33.24 6 Goa 42.16 31.50 10.66 31.50 7 Gujarat 339.18 254.13 85.05 76.24 8 Haryana 117.19 87.47 29.72 26.24 9 Himachal 65.33 58.80 6.53 41.16 Pradesh 10 Jharkhand 147.97 110.98 36.99 33.29 11 Karnataka 329.90 247.43 82.47 74.23 12 Kerala 162.25 121.07 41.18 36.32 13 Madhya Pradesh 397.54 297.15 100.39 89.15 14 Maharashtra 614.09 460.30 153.79 138.09 15 Manipur 45.00 40.50 4.50 28.35 16 Meghalaya 44.37 39.94 4.43 11.98 17 Mizoram 40.00 36.00 4.00 25.20 18 Nagaland 40.05 36.05 4.00 36.05 19 Odisha 200.38 150.29 50.09 105.20 20 Punjab 131.56 98.67 32.89 29.60 21 Rajasthan 388.94 291.71 97.23 87.51 22 Sikkim 32.25 29.03 3.22 20.32 23 Tamil Nadu 373.27 279.95 93.32 195.97 24 Telangana 190.14 142.61 47.53 99.83 25 Tripura 42.36 38.12 4.24 26.69 26 Uttar Pradesh 768.67 576.50 192.17 172.95 27 Uttarakhand 78.89 71.00 7.89 21.30 28 West Bengal 376.76 282.57 94.19 84.77 ***