Fire and Rescue Officer Trainee: Kerala PSC 2026

Kerala Trade Network; Thiruvananthapuram; On-site; INR 311,000 - 711,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerala Trade Network is listing a recruitment for Fire and Rescue Officer Trainee with Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Department. Trainees undergo residential training at the academy in Viyyur, Thrissur before posting anywhere in the state.

Day-to-day duties include handling fires, rescues, and safety inspections during emergencies and public events. Eligibility requires Plus Two or equivalent, aged 18–33 with relaxations for certain categories; selection includes written, PE test, medical and

Qualifications

• Essential qualification is a pass in Plus Two or an equivalent examination recognised by the government.
• Age band is 18 to 33 years with relaxations for SC, ST and OBC as per Rule 10(c).
• Both male and female candidates from eligible communities can apply; no application fee.

Responsibilities

• Duties include responding to fires in buildings, industrial and vehicle fires, river water rescue, road accident extrication, and disaster response during floods and cyclones.
• Assist in fire safety inspections and community outreach as part of training and service.

Skills

Physical fitness

Age 18-33

Education

Plus Two or equivalent

Job description

The Kerala Public Service Commission is inviting online applications for Fire and Rescue Officer (Trainee) posts under Category Numbers 139/2026 to 142/2026, allocated as reservation vacancies within the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Department. The current window covers seven Trainee positions across four community categories: Scheduled Caste Converts to Christianity, Latin Catholic and Anglo Indian, Viswakarma, and SIUC Nadar. The pay scale is Rs 27,900 to 63,700 per month. Applicants must have passed Plus Two or an equivalent qualification and must be born between 02.01.1993 and 01.01.2008 (age 18 to 33 years, with usual relaxations for SC, ST, and OBC categories). Applications close on 07 October 2026 through the Thulasi One Time Registration portal, and there is no application fee.

This is one of the more actively searched uniformed service roles advertised through the state, and the current cycle is the NCA (No Candidate Available) round for these four communities in the 2026 recruitment calendar. Anyone tracking latest jobs on Kerala Trade Network during this quarter should note that the entire cycle runs on a strict Thulasi timeline with no offline route.

About the Role

A Fire and Rescue Officer Trainee is the entry rank in the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Department, the state agency responsible for firefighting, rescue operations, disaster response, and enforcement of fire safety rules across all 14 districts. Trainees complete a residential training programme at the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Academy at Viyyur, Thrissur, before being posted to any station in the state based on departmental need.

Day-to-day duties cover house and commercial building fires, industrial and vehicle fires, water rescue across Kerala's rivers, backwaters, and coastal zones, road accident extrication, tree-fall and structural collapse response during monsoon incidents, and community fire safety inspections. Trainees also assist in disaster relief during floods, cyclones, and landslides, and support the state's response during the annual Sabarimala pilgrim season and other large public gatherings.

Vacancy Breakdown

• Cat.No.139/2026: Scheduled Caste Converts to Christianity, 2 posts
• Cat.No.140/2026: Latin Catholic and Anglo Indian, 3 posts
• Cat.No.141/2026: Viswakarma, 1 post
• Cat.No.142/2026: SIUC Nadar, 1 post

These are NCA vacancies, meaning only candidates from the specified reservation categories can apply under these category numbers. General and other reserved open vacancies for the same post are advertised separately through parallel Kerala PSC notifications.

Eligibility and Qualifications

The essential qualification is a pass in Plus Two (Higher Secondary) or an equivalent examination recognised by the government. The age band is 18 to 33 years (born on or after 02.01.1993 and on or before 01.01.2008), with age relaxation available for SC, ST, and OBC candidates as per Rule 10(c) of the Kerala PSC General Rules. Male and female candidates from the eligible communities can apply, and the notification does not charge an application fee.

Selection stages include a written examination (Objective Multiple Choice), a Physical Efficiency Test covering running, high jump, and rope climbing, a medical examination, and document verification. Physical measurement and endurance standards are prescribed by the Fire and Rescue Services Department in the official gazette.

Salary and Service Benefits

Trainees are paid a monthly training stipend during the induction period and move to the regular pay scale of Rs 27,900 to 63,700 after completing training and being appointed as Fire and Rescue Officers. Kerala state government service benefits apply: Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, medical reimbursement, leave travel concession, pension under the National Pension System, group insurance, and uniform allowance. The role carries a defined promotion path through the ranks of Assistant Station Officer, Station Officer, Assistant District Officer, and above.

The deadline is midnight on 07 October 2026.

Location and Postings

The Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Department headquarters is at Thycaud in Thiruvananthapuram and coordinates fire stations across all 14 districts of Kerala. Successful candidates report first to Viyyur for training, then are posted to any station across the state. Members watching job openings in Thiruvananthapuram can follow the KTN listings for related state government notifications through the rest of the recruitment calendar.

Why This Recruitment Matters

NCA rounds like this exist to fill posts that stayed vacant in earlier general recruitment for the same category. Because these notifications draw from a narrower community pool, the applicant-to-vacancy ratio is often lower than open-merit rounds for the same rank, which means eligible candidates who are physically prepared and have completed their OTR early have a reasonable statistical shot at making the shortlist.

Fire and Rescue Officer Trainee sits alongside other Business-category government job listings currently active on KTN. If uniformed services are the intended track, review each notification's category number and community eligibility carefully before applying. Kerala PSC lists each community's cut-off marks and vacancy count separately, and applying under the wrong category leads to rejection at verification.

For more Kerala Public Service Commission notifications, examination schedules, and government-sector career updates, follow the Thiruvananthapuram government job listings on Kerala Trade Network.