Overview
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PSP Division, New Delhi has released a recruitment notification for the post of Section Officer or equivalent (60 posts (03 Section Officers per Regional Passport Office × 20 RPOs) vacancies). Eligible candidates can apply offline — through proper channel in prescribed pro-forma (annexure-i) as per the official notification.
Key Details
- Organization
- Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PSP Division, New Delhi
- Qualification
- This is a deputation vacancy — only serving Central Government Officers are eligible. Applications from individuals not in Central Government service will not be considered. Only those applications that are complete in all aspects and forwarded through proper channel will be considered. While forwarding the applications, it must be verified and certified that particulars furnished by the officer are correct. It must also be confirmed that in the event of selection for appointment, the officer shall be relieved on immediate basis. Criteria: Details Essential Eligibility Criteria: Officers working in any Ministry/Department/Office of the Central Government and holding analogous posts in Level 8/10 of the Pay Matrix on regular basis will be considered eligible against the corresponding post. Job Description: To work within the jurisdiction of any of the 20 Regional Passport Offices across India as per Annexure-II of the circular. Selected officers may be required to travel within India. Disciplinary/Vigilance Status: No disciplinary case should be either pending or contemplated against the officer; no major or minor penalty should have been imposed on the officer during the last 10 years; integrity must be beyond doubt. Desirable Criteria Sl. No.: Desirable Quality / Experience (i): Good managerial and interpersonal skills. (ii): Ability to liaise effectively with other organizations/Ministries/Departments/think tanks. (iii): Good noting and drafting skills and communication abi…
- Vacancies
- 60 posts (03 Section Officers per Regional Passport Office × 20 RPOs)
- Last date to apply
- 17-07-2026
Important Dates
| Last Date for Forwarding Applications | 17-07-2026 |
| Date of Circular | 22/05/2026 |
| Age Calculated As On | 01-01-2026 |
| Last Date for Forwarding Applications through Proper Channel | 17-07-2026 |
| Advance Copy Submission (Email) | On or before 17-07-2026 at [email protected] |
Important Links
Vacancy Details
A total of 60 vacancies have been announced for the post of Section Officer or equivalent at Level 8/10 of Pay Matrix, distributed as 03 posts per Regional Passport Office across 20 RPOs in India. The list of 20 RPOs is as per Annexure-II of the circular. S. No.: Regional Passport Office (RPO) | No. of Posts 1: Amritsar | 03 2: Bengaluru | 03 3: Bhubaneswar | 03 4: Chennai | 03 5: Cochin | 03 6: Coimbatore | 03 7: Guwahati | 03 8: Jalandhar | 03 9: Kozhikode | 03 10: Madurai | 03 11: Mumbai | 03 12: Nagpur | 03 13: Panaji | 03 14: Pune | 03 15: Srinagar | 03 16: Surat | 03 17: Trichy | 03 18: Trivandrum | 03 19: Vijayawada | 03 20: Vishakhapatnam | 03 Total: 60
Eligibility
This is a deputation vacancy — only serving Central Government Officers are eligible. Applications from individuals not in Central Government service will not be considered. Only those applications that are complete in all aspects and forwarded through proper channel will be considered. While forwarding the applications, it must be verified and certified that particulars furnished by the officer are correct. It must also be confirmed that in the event of selection for appointment, the officer shall be relieved on immediate basis. Criteria: Details Essential Eligibility Criteria: Officers working in any Ministry/Department/Office of the Central Government and holding analogous posts in Level 8/10 of the Pay Matrix on regular basis will be considered eligible against the corresponding post. Job Description: To work within the jurisdiction of any of the 20 Regional Passport Offices across India as per Annexure-II of the circular. Selected officers may be required to travel within India. Disciplinary/Vigilance Status: No disciplinary case should be either pending or contemplated against the officer; no major or minor penalty should have been imposed on the officer during the last 10 years; integrity must be beyond doubt. Desirable Criteria Sl. No.: Desirable Quality / Experience (i): Good managerial and interpersonal skills. (ii): Ability to liaise effectively with other organizations/Ministries/Departments/think tanks. (iii): Good noting and drafting skills and communication abi…
Age Limit
The maximum age limit for appointment on deputation shall not exceed 56 years as on 01-01-2026. No minimum age has been specified — the officer must be a serving Central Government employee. Category: Age Limit All eligible Central Government Officers (Deputation): Maximum 56 years as on 01-01-2026
Selection Process
Selection will be based on scrutiny of applications forwarded through proper channel. Only complete applications forwarded through the proper channel will be considered. While forwarding, the Head of Department must verify and certify that the particulars furnished by the officer are correct and confirm that if selected, the officer shall be relieved on immediate basis. It is mandatory to serve the full deputation term — premature relieving will not be considered except in rare or exceptional circumstances. Stage 1 - Application Forwarding through Proper Channel Interested officers must submit their application in the prescribed pro-forma (Annexure-I) through their Head of Department/Ministry/Cadre Controlling Authority. Applications not forwarded through proper channel will not be considered. Advance copies may be mailed to [email protected] — however, only applications forwarded through proper channel will be processed. Stage 2 - Scrutiny and Selection Received applications will be scrutinized for eligibility. Selection will be made by the Competent Authority of MEA based on the officer's service record, ACRs/APARs, Cadre Clearance, Vigilance Clearance, and other documents submitted with the application. Candidates may be required to state their preference of up to 3 RPO stations in the application form.
How to Apply
Eligible and interested Central Government Officers must apply in the prescribed pro-forma (Annexure-I of the Circular). The complete application form must be sent through proper channel to the address below latest by 17-07-2026. An advance copy may also be mailed to [email protected] — however, only applications complete in all aspects and forwarded through proper channel will be considered. Documents to be Submitted along with Application (through Proper Channel): • Application in prescribed pro-forma (Annexure-I) — in duplicate copy, signed by the volunteering officer and forwarded through proper channel with due Cadre Clearance • Up-to-date copies of ACRs/APARs for the last 5 years — duly attested on each page by a Group A Officer • Cadre Clearance from the Cadre Controlling Authority • Vigilance Clearance • Details of minor/major penalty imposed on the officer by the Competent Authority for the last 10 years (if any) • Statement of Bio-data in prescribed pro-forma (Annexure-I) — in duplicate copy, signed by the volunteering officer Information to be filled in the Application Pro-forma (Annexure-I): • Name & Designation • Date of Birth • Gender • Educational Qualifications • Mobile No. and E-mail ID • Service/Batch • Details of employment in chronological order (Department/Institution/Organization, Post held, From–To, Scale of Pay and basic, Nature of duties performed) • Details of current employment • Basic Pay & Pay Level • Details of courses/training programmes attende…
Important Instructions
• This is a deputation vacancy — only serving Central Government Officers holding analogous posts in Level 8/10 of the Pay Matrix on regular basis are eligible. • It is mandatory to serve the full deputation term. Premature relieving will not be considered except in rare or exceptional circumstances. • Applications must be forwarded through proper channel — applications not sent through proper channel will not be considered. • The forwarding Ministry/Department must verify and certify that particulars furnished by the officer are correct and must confirm that if selected, the officer shall be relieved on immediate basis. • Only applications complete in all aspects will be considered — incomplete applications will be rejected. • ACRs/APARs for the last 5 years must be duly attested on each page by a Group A Officer. • Officers must state their preference of up to 3 RPO stations from the list of 20 in Annexure-II. • Advance copies may be mailed to [email protected] — but this alone does not constitute a valid application. • Pay and allowances will be admissible as per DoPT O.M. No. 6/8/2009-Estt. (Pay II) dated 17.06.2010 and amendments. • Selected officers may be required to travel within India. • The last date for forwarding applications through proper channel is 17-07-2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the important dates for MEA Section Officer Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline for 60 Posts?
Last Date for Forwarding Applications: 17-07-2026; Date of Circular: 22/05/2026; Age Calculated As On: 01-01-2026; Last Date for Forwarding Applications through Proper Channel: 17-07-2026; Advance Copy Submission (Email): On or before 17-07-2026 at [email protected]
What is the age limit?
The maximum age limit for appointment on deputation shall not exceed 56 years as on 01-01-2026. No minimum age has been specified — the officer must be a serving Central Government employee. Category: Age Limit All eligible Central Government Officers (Deputation): Maximum 56 years as on 01-01-2026
What is the selection process?
Selection will be based on scrutiny of applications forwarded through proper channel. Only complete applications forwarded through the proper channel will be considered. While forwarding, the Head of Department must verify and certify that the particulars furnished by the officer are correct and confirm that if selected, the officer shall be relieved on immediate basis. It is mandatory to serve the full deputation term — premature relieving will not be considered except in rare or exceptional circumstances. Stage 1 - Application Forwarding through Proper Channel Interested officers must submit their application in the prescribed pro-forma (Annexure-I) through their Head of Department/Ministry/Cadre Controlling Authority. Applications not forwarded through proper channel will not be considered. Advance copies may be mailed to [email protected] — however, only applications forwarded thr…