Ministry of External Affairs Section Officer (Deputation) Recruitment 2026 – Apply for 60 Posts Across India

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, under its PSP Division, has invited applications from eligible Central Government officers for the post of Section Officer or equivalent on a deputation basis. This recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 60 vacancies across various Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) situated throughout the country.

This is an excellent opportunity for experienced government officers seeking deputation assignments under the Ministry of External Affairs. Interested officers must submit their applications through the proper administrative channel before the prescribed deadline.

Organization Details

• Organization Name: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India
• Division: PSP Division
• Recruitment Name: MEA Section Officer (Deputation) Recruitment 2026

Post Details

The Ministry is inviting applications for the following post:

• Post Name: Section Officer or Equivalent
• Total Vacancies: 60 Posts

As per the official notification, three Section Officers will be posted at each participating Regional Passport Office across India.

Stations of Posting

Selected officers may be posted in any of the following 20 Regional Passport Offices:

• Amritsar
• Bengaluru
• Bhubaneswar
• Chennai
• Cochin
• Coimbatore
• Guwahati
• Jalandhar
• Kozhikode
• Madurai
• Mumbai
• Nagpur
• Panaji
• Pune
• Srinagar
• Surat
• Trichy
• Trivandrum
• Vijayawada
• Vishakhapatnam

Important Dates

Candidates must take note of the following important dates related to the recruitment process:

• Application Start Date: 22 May 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 17 July 2026
• Exam Date: Not Applicable

Since this recruitment is conducted on a deputation basis for serving government officers, no written examination will be held.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational & Professional Qualification

The notification does not specify any mandatory educational degree. However, applicants must fulfill certain professional eligibility conditions.

Eligible candidates should:

• Be officers working in any Ministry, Department, or Office of the Central Government.
• Be holding analogous posts on a regular basis in Level 8 / Level 10 of the Pay Matrix.

The Ministry has also highlighted several desirable qualities and professional experiences for applicants, including:

• Strong managerial and interpersonal skills
• Good noting, drafting, and communication abilities
• Capacity to coordinate effectively with organizations, government departments, and think tanks
• Previous experience as a Section Officer or equivalent in the Government of India
• Exposure to administrative matters, policy work, court cases, RTI matters, finance, audit, and public dealing

Age Limit

The maximum age limit for appointment on deputation should not exceed 56 years as on 01 January 2026. (Age limit Calculator)

Application Fee

No application fee has been prescribed for this deputation recruitment process.

Selection Process

Selection will be carried out strictly on a deputation basis. Applications received through the proper official channel will be scrutinized based on:

• Service records
• ACRs/APARs performance reports
• Cadre clearance
• Vigilance clearance
• Overall eligibility and professional experience

The initial period of deputation will be two years, which may be extended further as per existing government rules.

The notification also states that officers selected for deputation are expected to complete the deputation tenure, and requests for premature relieving will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Salary / Pay Scale

Selected officers will receive salary and allowances as per:

• Level 8 / Level 10 of the Pay Matrix

Pay and allowances will be regulated according to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines issued under O.M. No. 6/8/2009-Estt. (Pay II) dated 17 June 2010, as amended from time to time.

Deputation Allownace

Calculate the deputation allowance : Deputation allownace Claculator 

How to Apply

Interested and eligible officers must apply through the proper administrative channel by following the steps below:

1. Fill out the prescribed application form available in Annexure-I of the official circular.
2. Forward the completed application through the proper official channel after verification and certification by the applicant’s current department.
3. Send the physical application to the following address:

Administrative Officer (Cadre)
PSP Division, Ministry of External Affairs
Room No. 26, Patiala House
New Delhi

Additionally, applicants are advised to send an advance copy of the application via email to:

sopspcadre@mea.gov.in

Required Documents

Applicants must ensure that the following documents are attached with the application form:

• Attested copies of ACRs/APARs for the last five years
• Cadre Clearance Certificate
• Vigilance Clearance Certificate
• Details of major/minor penalties imposed during the last 10 years, if any
• Statement of Bio-data in the prescribed Annexure-I format, submitted in duplicate and signed by the volunteering officer

Official Notification

Important Links

• Apply Mode: Offline through proper administrative channel
• Official Website: www.mea.gov.in
• Notification PDF: Vacancy-Circular-2205-RPO.pdf

Candidates are advised to read the official notification carefully before submitting their applications to ensure they meet all eligibility conditions and documentation requirements.