New rules clear the way for first women firefighters in Telangana

The Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department is set to recruit its first batch of women firefighters this year.

The Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department is set to recruit its first batch of women firefighters this year, marking a historic milestone for the State’s emergency services.

Officials told The Hindu that the department is awaiting a recruitment notification from the Telangana Police Recruitment Board, which will conduct the selection process. The procedure will mirror police recruitment and include a preliminary selection test, physical efficiency tests, a written exam, and verification of character and antecedents.

The selected candidates will undergo training at the Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Training Institute in Hyderabad before being posted. Fire Fighter recruits will undergo four months of training, while Station Fire Officer trainees will receive seven months of training.

The recruitment follows the Government Order issued on July 11, 2025, introducing the Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Subordinate Service Rules, 2025, which formally opened the department’s operational posts, including Station Fire Officer and Fire Fighter, to women for the first time.

Firefighters in action during a major fire on Road No. 36 in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: File Photo

Officials said the department is hopeful that the large-scale recruitment drive announced by the State Director General of Police, which includes around 14,000 constable vacancies across uniformed services, could pave the way for the first batch of women firefighters in Telangana.