MEA Section Officer Recruitment 2026: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has officially released the detailed advertisement for the recruitment of 60 Section Officer positions across India . Applicants can submit their applications offline starting from 22 May 2026 until the deadline on 17 July 2026 via the official MEA Portal. The latest Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Recruitment 2026 has been announced for Section Officer or equivalent posts on Deputation basis in 20 Regional Passport Offices (RPOs). This vacancy circular offers 60 posts (03 Section Officers per RPO across 20 RPOs) for eligible Central Government Officers. Officers working in any Ministry or Department or Office of the Central Government and holding analogous posts in Level 8/10 of the Pay Matrix on regular basis can apply through proper channel latest by 17-07-2026. The selection process involves scrutiny of applications forwarded through proper channel verification of APARs cadre clearance and vigilance clearance followed by final selection by the Competent Authority . The pay scale for Section Officer post on deputation is Level 8/10 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix with allowances as per DoPT guidelines. This post contains details regarding the recruitment of MEA Section Officer 2026 and the details related to it.
MEA Section Officer Deputation Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PSP Division |
| Article Category | Recruitment |
| Circular Number | CDR-II/575/02/2025 dated 22/05/2026 |
| Post Name | Section Officer or equivalent |
| Total Vacancies | 60 |
| Pay Level | Level 8/10 of Pay Matrix (7th CPC) |
| Nature of Appointment | Deputation |
| Job Location | 20 Regional Passport Offices across India |
| Application Mode | Offline (through proper channel) |
| Last Date for Applications | 17 July 2026 |
| Official Website | https://www.mea.gov.in |
MEA Section Officer Scorecard 2026
The MEA Section Officer selection process does not involve a written examination or scorecard as this is a deputation based recruitment. Eligible Central Government Officers are selected based on scrutiny of their service records APARs/ACRs for the last 5 years cadre clearance vigilance clearance and overall eligibility verification. Shortlisted applicants are informed through official communication from the PSP Division MEA. The final selection is made by the Competent Authority based on the officer’s suitability for posting in Regional Passport Offices across India .
RPO Wise Vacancy Distribution for MEA Section Officer 2026
| 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 |
Important Dates for MEA Section Officer Deputation 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Circular | 22 May 2026 |
| Start Date for Offline Applications | 22 May 2026 |
| Age Calculated As On | 01 January 2026 |
| Last Date for Forwarding Applications through Proper Channel | 17 July 2026 |
| Advance Copy Submission (Email) Deadline | 17 July 2026 |
Who Can Apply for MEA Section Officer Deputation
- Officers working in any Ministry, Department or Office of the Central Government holding analogous posts in Level 8/10 of the Pay Matrix on regular basis
- Maximum age limit of 56 years as on 01 January 2026
- 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
- Must possess good managerial and interpersonal skills
- Good noting and drafting skills and communication abilities required
- Previous service as Section Officer or equivalent in Government of India offices preferred
Desirable Qualifications for MEA Section Officer Posts
- Previous experience of handling issues relating to Administration & Establishment, Policy, Court Cases, RTI, Finance & Accounts, Audit, and Public Dealing in Government of India
- Ability to liaise effectively with other organizations/Ministries/Departments/think tanks
- Strong noting and drafting skills and communication abilities
- Previous service as Section Officer or equivalent in Ministries/Departments/Attached/Subordinate offices in the Government of India
Deputation Period and Pay Scale
The initial period of deputation is 2 years which is extendable as per extant rules of the Government of India. Officers should apply only if they are ready to complete the full tenure. 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.
How to Apply for MEA Section Officer Deputation Recruitment 2026
- Download the prescribed application pro-forma (Annexure-I) from the official MEA website at mea.gov.in.
- Fill in the application form with all required details including name designation date of birth educational qualifications service/batch and employment history.
- Attach up-to-date copies of ACRs/APARs for the last 5 years duly attested on each page by a Group A Officer
- Obtain Cadre Clearance from the Cadre Controlling Authority and Vigilance Clearance
- Attach details of minor/major penalties imposed by the Competent Authority for the last 10 years (if any)
- State preference of up to 3 RPO stations from the list of 20 in order of preference (Field No. 15)
- Get the application forwarded through proper channel with Head of Department certification (with signature and stamp) confirming that particulars furnished are correct and that no disciplinary case is pending
- Send the complete application to Administrative Officer (Cadre), PSP Division, MEA, Room No. 26, Patiala House, New Delhi before the deadline
Selection Process for MEA Section Officer Deputation 2026
Selection will be based on scrutiny of applications forwarded through proper channel. Only complete applications forwarded through the proper channel will be considered.
Stage 1: Application Forwarding through Proper Channel Interested officers must submit their application in the prescribed pro-forma through their Head of Department/Ministry/Cadre Controlling Authority. Applications not forwarded through proper channel will not be considered.
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.
RRB NTPC Graduate Recruitment 2025 Apply Online for Station Master, Goods Train Manager Vacancies
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. It is a vacancy circular to fill 60 Section Officer posts in 20 Regional Passport Offices on deputation basis. These are temporary deputation postings for eligible Central Government officers.
Ans. The maximum age limit is 56 years as on 01 January 2026.
Ans. The initial period is 2 years and then can be extendable as per government rules.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | Click here |
| Apply Offline (Application Pro-forma) | Click here |
| Official Website | Click here |
| Advance Copy Email | sopspcadre@mea.gov.in |
