State Fire and Emergency Services departments recruit Firemen, Fire Engine Drivers and allied emergency staff to respond to fire and rescue emergencies. In 2026, KSFES in Karnataka moved on 1,828 posts, CG Vyapam in Chhattisgarh notified 295, JMC in Gujarat notified 120, and UPSSSC in Uttar Pradesh notified 170.
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Two facts shape this sector for a Class 10 candidate.
Karnataka pays exceptionally well. The KSFES Fireman scale runs ₹37,500 to ₹83,700 on an SSLC (Class 10) qualification — the highest entry pay of any Class 10 post covered in this series, by a wide margin.
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Several states operate a pre-qualification gate. Uttar Pradesh requires a qualified PET-2025 score before the post can even be applied for; Chhattisgarh admits only PET-qualified candidates. In these states the gate, not the notification, is the real recruitment.
This guide sets out the state-wise eligibility, salary, selection sequence and application procedure.
Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Bodies | State Fire and Emergency Services, state selection boards, municipal corporations |
| Posts | Fireman / Firefighter, Fire Engine Driver, Driver Technician, Leading Fireman, Station Fire Officer, Watch Room Operator |
| Qualification | Class 10 (SSLC) or Class 12, state-dependent |
| Age | Commonly 18 to 40 |
| Pay | ₹18,200 – ₹52,900 (TN) to ₹37,500 – ₹83,700 (Karnataka) |
| Selection | PST / PMT → Endurance / PET → Written Examination → DV → Medical |
| Gate | PET pre-qualification required in UP and Chhattisgarh |
1. State-Wise Eligibility
| State / Board | Posts | Qualification | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka (KSFES) | 1,828 — Fireman 1,500+, Fire Engine Driver 294, Driver Technician 32 | 10th (SSLC) or PUC | ₹37,500 – ₹83,700 |
| Tamil Nadu (TNUSRB) | Fireman | Class 10 + Tamil studied up to 10th standard | ₹18,200 – ₹52,900, Grade Pay ₹2,400 |
| Gujarat (JMC) | 120 — Fireman and officer posts | Class 10 or 12 for Fireman | Per municipal scale |
| Chhattisgarh (CG Vyapam) | 295 | 10+2 for Fireman; PET-qualified and CG permanent resident | Level-4, ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
| Uttar Pradesh (UPSSSC) | 170 | Class 12 + qualified PET-2025 | Level-3, ₹21,700 – ₹69,100 |
The Class 10 routes are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and municipal recruitment such as Jamnagar. Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh require Class 12.
Karnataka — The Strongest Opening
KSFES notified approximately 1,828 vacancies for Fireman, Fire Engine Driver and Driver Technician, with a starting scale of ₹37,500 rising to ₹83,700.
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Fireman | 10th (SSLC) or PUC, plus prescribed physical standards |
| Fire Engine Driver | 10th (SSLC) or PUC, plus a valid HMV licence and prescribed driving experience |
| Driver Technician | 10th (SSLC) or PUC, plus a valid driving licence and technical skills relating to fire service vehicles and equipment |
Age: 18 to 40 years. A 10% horizontal reservation for women is expected to be implemented — a notable development in a cadre that has historically had negligible female representation.
For a Class 10 candidate, a scale beginning at ₹37,500 is materially above every other post in this series — approximately 1.7 times the CAPF constable entry basic of ₹21,700 and more than double the SSC MTS entry basic of ₹18,000.
Tamil Nadu — The Language Condition
TNUSRB Fireman requires Class 10 together with Tamil studied up to the 10th standard. The language requirement is not a formality — see the selection section below.
Gujarat — Municipal Recruitment
Municipal corporations recruit their own fire staff. The Jamnagar drive of 2026 illustrates the post structure:
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Fireman | Class 10 or 12 |
| Leading Fireman | Class 12 + basic fire safety training |
| Sub Fire Officer / Station Fire Officer | Graduation + fire service training certificates |
| Legal Officer | LLB |
Candidates from other states may generally apply, but reservation and age relaxation benefits are confined to candidates of the state.
2. The Pre-Qualification Gate
This is the most important structural point in fire recruitment, and it is missed by candidates who begin preparing only when a notification appears.
Uttar Pradesh (UPSSSC). The Fireman and Vidhan Bhavan Rakshak recruitment under Advertisement No. 09-Exam/2026 is open only to candidates who have qualified PET-2025 and passed at least Class 12. The application itself is completed by logging in with the PET-2025 Registration Number — basic details such as name, date of birth, category, mobile number and email are populated automatically from PET records.
Chhattisgarh (CG Vyapam). The NSF26 recruitment is open only to candidates who have already cleared the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and who are Chhattisgarh permanent residents.
The implication: in these states, the fire recruitment notification is the second step. A candidate without the PET qualification cannot apply at all, irrespective of merit or fitness. The PET must be taken in its own cycle, well in advance.
Practical instruction: if you intend to pursue fire service in a PET-gated state, sit the PET at the first available opportunity, whether or not a fire notification is pending.
3. The Job Profile
Firemen are front-line emergency responders. Duties include:
- Responding promptly to fire alarms and emergencies
- Extinguishing fires using the appropriate equipment and technique
- Rescue operations for persons trapped in fires and other hazardous situations
- Providing first aid to the injured
- Regular maintenance checks on firefighting equipment and vehicles
- Participating in public fire safety awareness programmes
- Assisting in hazardous material incidents
This is physically demanding, shift-based emergency work. Physical readiness is a continuing requirement of the service, not merely of the recruitment.
4. Salary
| State | Pay Scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka (KSFES) | ₹37,500 – ₹83,700 | Highest entry among Class 10 posts in this series |
| Chhattisgarh | Level-4, ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 | Station Officer at Level-7 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Level-3, ₹21,700 – ₹69,100 | Plus DA, HRA, TA per UP rules |
| Tamil Nadu | ₹18,200 – ₹52,900 | Grade Pay ₹2,400 |
Allowances — Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Travel Allowance — apply per the respective state’s norms, alongside job security, promotion opportunities and standard service benefits.
The spread across states is unusually wide. The same designation, performing the same duties, carries an entry scale of ₹18,200 in Tamil Nadu and ₹37,500 in Karnataka. Candidates eligible in more than one state should weigh this directly.
5. Selection Process
The sequence differs by state, and the order determines what to prepare first.
Karnataka (KSFES)
Physical Standard Test (PST) → Endurance Test → Written Examination
Physical stages come first. A candidate who has not trained will not reach the written paper.
Tamil Nadu (TNUSRB)
Tamil Language Aptitude Test → Written Examination (two papers) → Physical Measurement and Efficiency Test → Document Verification → Medical Examination
The Tamil test is a hard gate, and its mechanics deserve attention. The OMR sheets for the main written examination are evaluated only for candidates securing a minimum of 32 marks — 40% — in the Tamil language paper. A candidate who scores 32 in Tamil but writes an excellent main paper has that paper evaluated. A candidate who scores 31 does not — the main paper is never marked, regardless of what is written on it.
General Knowledge questions are drawn from Tamil Nadu Government textbooks up to Class 10, covering General Science, History of India, Geography, Indian Polity, Indian Economy and Current Affairs, alongside Reasoning and Mental Ability.
Chhattisgarh (CG Vyapam)
PET (pre-qualified) → Written Examination → Document Verification
The written examination for the 2026 cycle was scheduled for 19 July 2026 at Raipur.
Gujarat (JMC)
PET is mandatory for all fire department posts, including Fireman and officer grades.
The Common Pattern
Physical testing is the principal elimination stage in every state, whether it precedes or follows the written paper. Where PST comes first — as in Karnataka — an untrained candidate never sits the written examination at all. Where a PET gate operates — as in UP and Chhattisgarh — an untrained candidate cannot even apply.
Physical preparation should begin months before, not after the notification.
6. Application Procedure
Karnataka (KSFES)
- Review the notification on the official KSFES portal and confirm eligibility.
- Keep ready: a valid email ID and mobile number, identity proof, age proof, educational qualification documents and any experience records.
- Open the Apply Online link and complete the application form.
- Upload documents and submit.
Uttar Pradesh (UPSSSC)
- Open the Live Advertisement section on the UPSSSC portal and select Advertisement No. 09-Exam/2026.
- Log in using the PET-2025 Registration Number. Name, date of birth, category, mobile number and email populate automatically from PET records.
- Select the post — Vidhan Bhavan Rakshak and/or Fireman. Where applying for more than one, set the preferred order of posts.
- Enter educational particulars — board or institution name, year of passing, roll number, certificate date and marks.
- Submit with the verification code. An 11-digit registration number is generated — record it and print the form.
Note on age proof: only the date of birth recorded on the High School (Class 10) certificate or its equivalent is accepted. No other document is entertained.
Chhattisgarh (CG Vyapam)
- Register or log in on the official CG Vyapam portal.
- Open NSF26 — Fireman Written Recruitment Examination.
- Complete and submit the form and pay the fee — ₹350 general, ₹200 reserved — by net banking, card or UPI.
A notable provision: the application fee paid by Chhattisgarh local residents is refunded after declaration of the result, as per state government orders.
Gujarat (JMC)
- Open the municipal corporation’s official portal and locate the Recruitment or Careers section.
- Complete registration using an email and mobile number to obtain a login ID.
- Enter personal details and school marks carefully.
- Upload the passport photograph, signature on plain white paper, and supporting documents.
- Submit and pay the fee before the closing date.
7. Documents Checklist
- ☐ Class 10 (SSLC / HSLC) marksheet and certificate — also the sole accepted age proof in several states
- ☐ Class 12 marksheet and certificate, where required
- ☐ PET qualification scorecard / registration number — UP and Chhattisgarh
- ☐ Language subject evidence — Tamil up to Class 10 for TNUSRB
- ☐ HMV driving licence and experience — Fire Engine Driver posts
- ☐ Fire safety training certificate — Leading Fireman and officer posts
- ☐ Graduation degree and fire service training certificates — Station Fire Officer posts
- ☐ Domicile / permanent resident certificate
- ☐ Caste or category certificate — for age or fee benefit
- ☐ Recent colour passport photograph and signature on plain white paper
- ☐ Printed application form
8. Assessment
Fire service is among the better-paid Class 10 opportunities in India, but the position is highly state-dependent.
Karnataka is the standout. A scale of ₹37,500 – ₹83,700 on an SSLC qualification, with an age band to 40, roughly 1,828 posts and an expected 10% horizontal reservation for women, has no comparator among the Class 10 posts in this series.
Tamil Nadu is accessible but modest. Class 10 qualification with a ₹18,200 – ₹52,900 scale, gated by a Tamil language paper requiring 40% before the main paper is evaluated at all.
Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh require Class 12 and a PET gate, which places them outside the reach of a Class 10 candidate in the current cycle — but the PET can be sat in its own cycle, and Class 12 can be completed through open schooling.
Municipal corporations recruit Firemen on Class 10 or 12 and are frequently overlooked, as their notifications are not carried on national job platforms.
The recommended approach: if eligible in Karnataka, treat KSFES as the priority — the pay differential over every alternative is substantial. Elsewhere, sit the state PET at the first opportunity whether or not a fire notification is pending, begin physical training months ahead of any application, and monitor the fire services department and municipal corporation portals directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can a 10th pass candidate become a Fireman? In several states, yes. Karnataka (KSFES) recruits Firemen on 10th (SSLC) or PUC, Tamil Nadu (TNUSRB) on Class 10 with Tamil studied to the 10th standard, and municipal corporations such as Jamnagar on Class 10 or 12. Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh require Class 12.
Q2. What is the Fireman salary in 2026? It varies widely by state. Karnataka: ₹37,500 – ₹83,700. Chhattisgarh: Level-4, ₹25,500 – ₹81,100. Uttar Pradesh: Level-3, ₹21,700 – ₹69,100. Tamil Nadu: ₹18,200 – ₹52,900 with Grade Pay ₹2,400.
Q3. Is a physical test mandatory? Yes, in every state. PST/PMT and an Endurance Test or PET are mandatory and constitute the principal elimination stage. In Karnataka the physical stages precede the written examination.
Q4. What is the PET gate in UP and Chhattisgarh? Both admit only PET-qualified candidates. UP requires a qualified PET-2025 score, and the application is completed by logging in with the PET-2025 Registration Number. Chhattisgarh admits only PET-qualified permanent residents of the state. Without the PET, the post cannot be applied for.
Q5. How does the Tamil language test work in TNUSRB? It is the first stage and is mandatory. The OMR sheets of the main written examination are evaluated only for candidates scoring at least 32 marks — 40% — in the Tamil paper. Below that threshold, the main paper is not marked at all.
Q6. Can women apply for Fireman posts? Yes. Karnataka’s KSFES drive is expected to implement a 10% horizontal reservation for women, described as a landmark provision for the cadre. Gujarat municipal fire recruitment is open to both male and female candidates.
Q7. Is the application fee refundable? In Chhattisgarh, the fee paid by local residents is refunded after the result is declared, as per state government orders. This is unusual and specific to that state.
Q8. What documents prove age? In UPSSSC recruitment, only the date of birth recorded on the High School (Class 10) certificate or its equivalent is accepted. Retain the original.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Qualification, age limits, vacancy numbers, pay scales, physical standards, PET pre-qualification conditions, fees and dates differ by state, board and municipal corporation, and are revised periodically. Several figures cited are drawn from notifications expected or released in 2026 and are subject to confirmation. Candidates must read the official notification of the concerned department before applying and treat that notification as the final authority.