The Cabinet Secretariat has opened the gates to one of the most sought-after technical government jobs of the year. Under Advertisement No. 02/2026, the Government of India is inviting applications for 250 Deputy Field Officer (Technical) posts, and the window has just opened. Engineers and science postgraduates holding a valid GATE score can apply offline before 15 November 2026.
What makes this recruitment special is its simplicity. There is no separate written examination. Your GATE score from 2024, 2025 or 2026 does the talking, and shortlisted candidates go straight to the interview stage. For aspirants who have already fought the GATE battle, this is a chance to convert that score into a Group B central government post.
Key details at a glance
- Organisation: Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India
- Post: Deputy Field Officer (Technical), Group B (Non-Gazetted), Level 7
- Total vacancies: 250 (tentative)
- Notification issued: 17 October 2026 (Employment News, 17-23 October 2026 issue)
- Last date to apply: 15 November 2026
- Application mode: Offline, by ordinary post
- Application fee: Nil for all categories
- Official website: cabsec.gov.in
Who can apply
The eligibility bar is straightforward. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology, or a Master’s degree in Science, in one of the specified subjects from a recognised university or institution. Along with the degree, you need a valid GATE score card from GATE 2024, GATE 2025 or GATE 2026.
The age limit is not exceeding 30 years as on the closing date, 15 November 2026. Relaxation in the upper age limit applies for SC, ST, OBC, Central Government employees and ex-servicemen, as per Central Government orders in force. Since there is no application fee, there is genuinely nothing to lose by applying if you are eligible.
Subject-wise vacancy break-up
The 250 tentative vacancies are spread across nine subjects, and each subject is mapped to a specific GATE paper. Your GATE paper code decides which discipline you are eligible for:
- Computer Science / Information Technology: 112 posts (GATE paper CS)
- Electronics and Communication / Telecommunication: 112 posts (GATE paper EC)
- Data Science / Artificial Intelligence: 10 posts (GATE paper DA)
- Physics: 5 posts (GATE paper PH)
- Mechanical Engineering: 4 posts (GATE paper ME)
- Civil Engineering: 3 posts (GATE paper CE)
- Chemistry: 2 posts (GATE paper CY)
- Mathematics: 1 post (GATE paper MA)
- Statistics: 1 post (GATE paper ST)
The numbers tell their own story. Computer science and electronics candidates get 224 of the 250 seats, so competition will be fiercest there. The smaller subjects, with a single seat each, could turn into lottery tickets for the right candidate with a strong GATE score.
How the selection works
There is no fresh written test, which makes this recruitment refreshingly predictable. The process runs in four stages:
- Shortlisting on GATE score: candidates are shortlisted at roughly five times the number of vacancies in each subject, based purely on their valid GATE score.
- Interview: shortlisted candidates face a panel interview where technical depth and subject clarity matter most.
- Character and antecedent verification: standard background verification for a sensitive central government role.
- Medical examination: the final fitness clearance before appointment.
Since shortlisting depends only on GATE scores, aspirants with top percentile scores in CS or EC should treat this notification as a priority. There is no margin to compensate for a weak score later, because there is no written exam to make up the difference.
Salary and posting
The post carries Level 7 of the pay matrix under the 7th Central Pay Commission. Initial monthly emoluments are reported at approximately Rs 1.1 lakh, including allowances, for a New Delhi posting. Job location is officially All India, with field postings and transfer liability, so candidates should be prepared to serve anywhere in the country.
How to apply: offline, by post
This is an old-school, paper-based application. Fill in the prescribed form given in the official notification, attach self-attested copies of the required documents and two recent passport-size photographs, and send the envelope by ordinary post so that it reaches the Cabinet Secretariat on or before 15 November 2026.
Because postal delays are nobody’s friend, mail your application at least a week before the deadline. Download the notification and application format from cabsec.gov.in, and read the Employment News advertisement (17-23 October 2026 issue) carefully before filling anything.
FAQs
Q1. What is the last date to apply for Cabinet Secretariat DFO Technical Recruitment 2026?
The last date for receipt of applications is 15 November 2026. Applications must reach by ordinary post, so mail early.
Q2. Is there any application fee?
No. The application process is completely free for all categories, including UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, women and ex-servicemen.
Q3. Which GATE scores are accepted?
Valid GATE scores from 2024, 2025 or 2026 are accepted. Your GATE paper code must match the subject you are applying for.
Q4. Is there a written exam in this recruitment?
No. Shortlisting is done on the basis of your GATE score (around five times the vacancies per subject), followed by an interview, verification and a medical exam.
Q5. What is the salary of a Deputy Field Officer (Technical)?
The post is in Level 7, Group B (Non-Gazetted), with initial monthly emoluments of approximately Rs 1.1 lakh including allowances at New Delhi posting.
For official details, always refer to the notification on cabsec.gov.in. Informeia brings you verified government job updates; keep checking the Careers section for the latest recruitments.
