MEA Section Officer Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline for 60 Posts

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PSP Division, New Delhi has officially released Vacancy Circular No. CDR-II/575/02/2025 dated 22/05/2026 for appointment of 60 Section Officers or equivalent (in Level 8/10 of Pay Matrix) on deputation basis in 20 Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) across India. The circular includes complete details on post-wise vacancies, RPO-wise distribution, eligibility criteria, desirable qualifications, age limit, pay & allowances, and application instructions. Eligible Central Government Officers are strongly advised to read the full circular before applying through proper channel. Download MEA Section Officer RPO Deputation 2026 Official Vacancy Circular PDF

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. Desirable Criteria

Desirable Criteria

Pay and allowances for the deputation posting will be admissible as per the guidelines of Department of Personnel and Training's O.M. No. 6/8/2009-Estt. (Pay II) dated 17.06.2010 as amended from time to time.

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.

Since this is a deputation vacancy from Central Government, competition is limited to serving Central Government Officers at Level 8/10 of the Pay Matrix — a well-defined and relatively focused pool. With 60 vacancies across 20 RPOs spread pan-India, interested officers have the opportunity to express preference for up to 3 RPO stations. The desirable criteria strongly favour officers with prior experience in Sections dealing with Administration & Establishment, RTI, Finance, Audit, and public dealing — making CSS (Central Secretariat Service) officers and those from similarly structured Departments particularly well-placed. Officers with clean vigilance and service records and those who have handled passport or public services-related work will have an edge. The 2-year deputation period (extendable as per rules) and the mandatory requirement of serving the full term should be carefully considered by officers before applying. Serving at an RPO involves significant public dealing and field-level administrative work — distinct from typical Secretariat/Ministry desk work — which officers should factor into their decision.

Officers who are not currently working in any Ministry/Department/Office of the Central Government — this is exclusively a deputation vacancy for serving Central Government employees; private sector or state government employees are not eligible. Officers who are not holding analogous posts in Level 8/10 of the Pay Matrix on a regular basis — ad hoc, temporary, or contract appointment holders are not eligible. Officers who have crossed 56 years of age as on 01-01-2026. Officers against whom disciplinary cases are pending or contemplated, or who have had major or minor penalties imposed in the last 10 years — the Head of Department certification is mandatory and such officers cannot be cleared. Officers whose Cadre Controlling Authority will not grant Cadre Clearance for the deputation. Officers who are not willing to be posted at any of the 20 RPO locations across India — the posting location depends on vacancy and preference given, but final posting is at MEA's discretion. Officers who may require premature repatriation — serving the complete deputation term is mandatory except in rare/exceptional circumstances; officers who foresee such a requirement should not apply. Officers who cannot be relieved on immediate basis upon selection — the forwarding Ministry/Department must confirm immediate relieving as a condition for forwarding.

Not forwarding through proper channel — applications not forwarded through the proper channel (Head of Department) will be summarily rejected regardless of eligibility; advance email copy alone is not sufficient. Submitting an incomplete application — only complete applications in all aspects will be considered; missing any of the mandatory enclosures (ACRs/APARs, Cadre Clearance, Vigilance Clearance, penalty details, Bio-data in prescribed pro-forma) will lead to rejection. Not using the prescribed pro-forma (Annexure-I) — applications in any other format will not be considered. Not getting ACRs/APARs for last 5 years attested on each page by a Group A Officer — unattested or partially attested ACRs/APARs are not acceptable. Not mentioning 3 RPO preferences in the application form (Field No. 15) — officers should carefully indicate their preferred RPO stations from the list of 20 in Annexure-II. Sending advance copy email but not forwarding the hard copy through proper channel — the advance email copy is for information only; the official application must travel through proper channel. Not confirming the age eligibility as on 01-01-2026 (must not exceed 56 years) before applying — officers who crossed 56 years by 01-01-2026 are ineligible. Not ensuring the Head of Department's certification at the bottom of the application pro-forma is complete with signature and stamp — this certification is mandatory.

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.