New Delhi, April 20 -- More than a third of the 5,500 schools in the Capital do not meet fire safety norms, official data accessed by HT shows, putting one of the most vulnerable populations at risk. According to data as of January 1, 2026, from the Delhi Fire Services, only 3,572 private and government-aided schools have obtained the mandatory fire No Objection Certificates (NOC). A total of 1,928 schools, or around 35%, have either yet to receive certification or to clear fire safety inspections, the data showed. A senior fire official said that, while the data is compiled yearly in records, they have not received any new applications in the last two and half months. It was not immediately clear how many of these are either government-aided or private. Under the National Building Code of India 2016, a fire NOC certifies that the building complies with "minimum standards for fire prevention and fire safety for buildings," according to the Delhi Fire Services Rules. To be sure, not all buildings require NOCs. For instance, buildings where each floor individually is under 9 metres don't require the clearance. A Delhi Fire Services official said, "The NOC ensures that buildings have functional safety systems such as extinguishers, alarms, and evacuation plans. Schools that do not comply are advised to address deficiencies and reapply. Regular inspections are carried out, but compliance remains uneven." Meanwhile, Delhi home minister Ashish Sood told HT that, while he had not been aware of the data, steps will be taken to ensure that the schools get their certifications soon....