The Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment 2026 is a premium opportunity for engineering graduates aiming for the Deputy Field Officer (Technical) post. If you have cracked GATE, this selection process is your next big step. It utilizes valid GATE 2026 scores to shortlist candidates for approximately 250 vacancies across disciplines like Electronics, Computer Science, and Physics. Successful applicants secure a Group ‘B’ Gazetted position with a Level 7 pay scale and extensive government benefits.
Overview of Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment Job Profile
The Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment for the Deputy Field Officer (DFO) position offers a prestigious gateway into the Government of India’s strategic operations. This role is distinct from typical engineering PSUs as it involves technical intelligence and field operations rather than standard industrial maintenance or design.
Candidates selected for the Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment Job are tasked with maintaining communication infrastructure and technical surveillance systems. The recruitment explicitly targets high-aptitude engineers who can handle the rigors of field assessments and technical deployment.
Unlike other Cabinet Secretariat recruitment through GATE drives that might focus on administrative roles, the DFO (Tech) entry is purely technical. It demands proficiency in core engineering subjects combined with operational intelligence. This specific drive is expected to fill vacancies utilizing the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 scores, ensuring a merit-based entry for top-tier talent.
Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment Vacancy Details
The 2026 cycle is expected to announce a substantial number of openings, continuing the trend of previous years with a projected Cabinet Secretariat vacancy of 250 posts. The distribution of these vacancies typically favors core technical branches essential for signal processing and telecommunications.
A detailed breakdown of the Cabinet Secretariat DFO recruitment vacancies often reflects the organization’s technical needs. While official notifications confirm exact numbers, historical data suggests the following allocation:
| Discipline | Expected Vacancies |
| Electronics and Communication (ECE) | ~100-125 posts |
| Computer Science (CSE) | ~50-60 posts |
| Physics / Wireless Telecom | ~25-30 posts |
It is crucial for aspirants to note that the Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment reserves the right to modify these numbers based on operational requirements. The specific allocation for Cabinet Secretariat recruitment through GATE ensures that candidates from relevant GATE papers (EC, CS, PH) are matched directly to their functional domains within the organization.
Eligibility Criteria for Cabinet Secretariat DFO Recruitment
To participate in the Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment, candidates must strictly adhere to the age and educational qualifications mandated for the Deputy Field Officer (Tech) post. The primary filter for this recruitment is the GATE 2026 score. If you are currently in your final year, knowing how to Prepare GATE along with College is vital to ensure you clear the cutoff in your first attempt.
Quick Eligibility Check:
- Age Limit: Generally capped at 30 years as of the closing date.
- Relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (as per govt norms).
- Education: B.E./B.Tech or M.Sc. in Electronics, Telecom, or Physics.
- GATE Score: A valid GATE 2026 scorecard in the corresponding paper code (e.g., EC, CS, PH) is mandatory.
Candidates appearing for the Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment Job must ensure their GATE paper code aligns perfectly with their qualifying degree to avoid disqualification.
Cabinet Secretariat Selection Process GATE Score Interview
The Cabinet Secretariat selection process GATE score interview mechanism is a two-staged elimination system designed to filter for technical excellence and personality fit. Unlike exams with written stages, this process relies heavily on the credibility of the GATE examination. Since the shortlist depends entirely on your score, mastering How to attempt GATE 2026 is the first hurdle you must cross.
- Shortlisting: Candidates are filtered based on their normalized GATE marks out of 100.
- Personal Interview: Those who clear the threshold are invited for an interview. This is not merely a technical viva; it assesses psychological suitability for intelligence work.
The finally selected list of candidates in Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment consists of aggregated marks. But in certain recruitment cycles, there are significant weightages allotted only to the interview performance without any preference to the GATE score. It must be remembered by all that only short-listed aspirants would receive details on DFO admit card and interview centers in Cabinet Secretariat. They are mostly held in New Delhi.
Cabinet Secretariat Salary and Pay Scale
The selected candidates would enter the service at a very competitive remuneration level, which is defined by the salary and pay scale guidelines of the Cabinet Secretariat for Group ‘B’ Gazetted officers. The financial package is designed in such a way that it compensates for the challenging nature of the job.
The post of Deputy Field Officer (Technical) carries a pay scale in Level 7 of the Pay Matrix.
- Basic Pay: โน44,900
- Allowances: Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance.
- Special Benefit: Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment offers a Special Security Allowance (often 20% of basic pay) due to the sensitive nature of the work.
This makes the total CTC comparable to, or in some cases better than, standard PSU jobs. This financial structure is a key driver for high interest in Cabinet Secretariat recruitment through GATE. Unlike state-level drives like BSPHCL Recruitment, this role places you directly in the central government apparatus.
How to Apply for Cabinet Secretariat Jobs 2026
The application window for Cabinet Secretariat recruitment 2026 apply online typically opens shortly after the declaration of GATE results. The process is entirely digital.
To successfully navigate how to apply for Cabinet Secretariat jobs 2026, follow these steps:
- Wait for Notification: Monitor the Employment News or the official Cabinet Secretariat website for the DFO Tech advertisement.
- Registration: Register using your valid GATE 2026 Registration Number. Data is often cross-verified with the IIT organizing body.
- Form Filling: Complete the detailed application form. Ensure personal details match your matriculation certificate.
- Document Upload: Upload scanned copies of photographs, signatures, and caste certificates.
- Submission: Submit the form and print the confirmation page.
There is generally no application fee for this specific Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment Job, which lowers the barrier to entry for eligible candidates.
Cabinet Secretariat DFO Syllabus & Exam Pattern
While there is no separate written exam, understanding the Cabinet Secretariat DFO syllabus & exam pattern for the interview stage is vital. To cover these topics, you need reliable GATE Study Material 2026.
The interview panel tests the practical application of core engineering concepts:
- ECE Candidates: Communication Systems, Signal Processing, Antenna Theory.
- CSE Aspirants: Networks, Cyber Security, Algorithms.
The Cabinet Secretariat DFO Syllabus & Interview Pattern consists of questions directly based on the GATE Syllabus, along with questions based on practical situations. It is recommended that applicants prepare to defend their B-Tech Projects in detail, as the final year project is often asked as part of the process. The Cabinet Secretariat DFO Interview Pattern is highly unpredictable, often injecting questions that test the presence of mind.
Challenges in Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment Through GATE
A critical limitation of the Cabinet Secretariat recruitment through the GATE model is the over-reliance on technical scores for a role that demands high emotional intelligence. High GATE rankers often approach this recruitment expecting a standard engineering desk job, which can lead to misalignment.
In the recruitment by the Cabinet Secretariat, the interviews set themselves apart from the rest. A candidate who has secured a rank within the top 100 in the GATE entrance exam stands a small chance of being rejected at the interview phase itself should he be found wanting in the area of flexibility and awareness. This is mainly because the examinees in the entrance exam are expected to be academically sound compared to the practical intelligence called for by the DFO post. In addition to this, the Cabinet Secretariat selection process for the DFO post through the interview dynamic with the score achieved by the candidate in the entrance test ensures that the interviewers themselves place great emphasis on the communication skills of the applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the total number of vacancies available in the Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment 2026?
The recruitment drive aims to fill approximately 250 vacancies for the post of Deputy Field Officer (Technical) across disciplines like Electronics, Computer Science, and Physics.
Is a GATE score mandatory for the selection process?
Yes, a valid GATE 2026 scorecard is mandatory. Candidates are shortlisted for the interview stage based exclusively on their normalized GATE marks.
What is the salary for a Deputy Field Officer (Technical) in the Cabinet Secretariat?
Selected candidates are placed in Pay Level 7 of the 7th CPC. The gross monthly salary is approximately โน99,000, which includes basic pay plus allowances like DA, HRA, and a Special Security Allowance.
What is the maximum age limit to apply for the DFO (Technical) post?
The maximum age limit is 30 years. However, relaxations apply as per government norms: 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates.
Which engineering branches are eligible for this recruitment?
Candidates with a B.E./B.Tech in Electronics, Telecommunications, Computer Science, Information Technology, or an M.Sc. in Physics/Electronics are primarily eligible.
Is the Cabinet Secretariat DFO Recruitment application process online or offline?
The application process is typically offline. Candidates must download the application form, fill it in block letters, and send it along with self-attested documents to the designated Post Bag number in New Delhi.
Are candidates with disabilities (PwD) eligible for the DFO (Technical) role?
Due to the demanding nature of field duties and security requirements, this specific post is generally not suitable for PwD (HH, OH, VH) categories.
How many candidates are called for the Personal Interview stage?
Shortlisting is usually done in a ratio of 1:5. For every single vacancy, five candidates are invited for the interview based on the merit of their GATE scores.







