MHA Approves 10,473 New Posts For Delhi Fire Service As It Cites Urban Risks, Operational Needs

Published 3 August 2026 · local

MHA Approves 10,473 New Posts For Delhi Fire Service As It Cites Urban Risks, Operational Needs Published By, Last Updated: August 03, 2026, 08:18 IST

MHA Approves 10,473 New Posts For Delhi Fire Service As It Cites Urban Risks, Operational Needs Published By, Last Updated: August 03, 2026, 08:18 IST The order will raise the sanctioned strength of the department from 3,175 to 13,918, marking the first major manpower increase for the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) since 2010 Image for representation (PTI) The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has greenlit the creation of 10,473 new posts in the Delhi Fire Service, making way for a long-standing gap in the service. The move followed the Delhi Fire Service’s proposal to the home ministry, seeking to facilitate the increase in its personnel strength. The order will raise the sanctioned strength of the department from 3,175 to 13,918, marking the first major manpower increase for the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) since 2010, according to a document accessed by the Hindustan Times.

“The proposed addition of 5,069 posts is technically vetted, as it represents a rationalized adoption of SFAC (Standing Fire Advisory Council) benchmarks," the proposal document read. Chief Fire Officer Cites Urban Risks, Operational Demands AK Malik, Chief Fire Officer, confirmed the development and said the department had dispatched a proposal to the home ministry after carefully mulling Delhi’s expanding urban landscape, fire hazards, and the evolving need for emergency response. “The proposal has been prepared after assessing emerging fire hazards, urban risks and metropolitan operational demands. The additional manpower is essential to strengthen emergency response and build a modern metropolitan fire service," Malik told the Hindustan Times. He said the proposal is currently with the Delhi Government for the final procedural sanction.

Delhi Fire Incidents Just this year, the national capital has witnessed multiple major fire incidents, driven by extreme summer heatwave conditions, electrical overloads, and widespread building safety violations. On June 3, a devastating blaze ripped through a multi-storey building and restaurant complex in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, killing 21 people (including 12 foreign nationals) and prompting a city-wide crackdown on safety non-compliance. Previously, the DFS had informed the government that it was short of personnel against the large-scale operational requirement. While the department requires 9,123 personnel for its 71 fire stations operating round the clock, it merely has approximately 2,500 personnel, leaving a massive gap in the structure. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: August 03, 2026, 08:18 IST News india MHA Approves 10,473 New Posts For Delhi Fire Service As It Cites Urban Risks, Operational Needs Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.