The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) has released a recruitment notification inviting applications for Individual Consultants on a contract basis for its Project Management Team under the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework. A total of 6 positions are open across four roles: Program Director (2 posts), Deputy Program Director (1 post), Program Executive (2 posts), and Deputy Program Executive (1 post). Eligible candidates with relevant qualifications and experience can apply online through the official website www.idex.gov.in up to 5:00 PM on 10 August 2026. The place of work is New Delhi, and selection will be through an interview process that may include skill tests, personal interviews, and group discussions.
DIO Individual Consultant Recruitment 2026 Overview
Here are the key details of the DIO Individual Consultant Recruitment 2026 at a glance:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) |
| Team/Framework | iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) Project Management Team |
| Advertisement No. | DIO/Advertisement/IC-PM/2026(I) |
| Advertisement Date | 08 July 2026 |
| Posts | Program Director, Deputy Program Director, Program Executive, Deputy Program Executive |
| Total Positions | 6 |
| Nature of Engagement | Individual Consultant, purely on contract basis (full-time) |
| Contract Period | Initially 3 years, extendable up to 5 years, and further in exceptional circumstances with DIO Board approval |
| Application Mode | Online only, through www.idex.gov.in (Career section) |
| Application Start Date | Not specified in the official notification |
| Application Last Date | 10 August 2026, up to 5:00 PM |
| Job Location | New Delhi (candidates may be deputed elsewhere as per DIO requirements) |
DIO Individual Consultant Vacancy 2026: Post-wise Details
The vacancy break-up for the DIO Individual Consultant Recruitment 2026 is as follows:
| S. No. | Post Name | No. of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Program Director (PD) | 2 |
| 2 | Deputy Program Director (DPD) | 1 |
| 3 | Program Executive (PE) | 2 |
| 4 | Deputy Program Executive (DPE) | 1 |
Category-wise reservation breakup is not specified in the official notification, as this is a contract-based consultancy engagement rather than a regular reserved-category recruitment.
DIO Individual Consultant Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for the DIO Individual Consultant Recruitment 2026 depends on the specific post applied for, and is based on a combination of educational qualification, post-qualification experience, and age limit, detailed below.
DIO Individual Consultant Qualification
| Post | Educational Qualification & Experience |
|---|---|
| Program Director (PD) | Master's Degree in Science/Management/Technology or equivalent with 10 years of post-qualification experience in the relevant field; OR Bachelor's Degree in the same fields with 12 years of post-qualification experience |
| Deputy Program Director (DPD) | Master's Degree in Science/Management/Technology or equivalent with 6 years of post-qualification experience; OR Bachelor's Degree in the same fields with 8 years of post-qualification experience |
| Program Executive (PE) | Master's Degree in Science/Management/Technology or equivalent with 2 years of post-qualification experience; OR Bachelor's Degree in the same fields with 4 years of post-qualification experience |
| Deputy Program Executive (DPE) | Master's Degree in Science/Management/Technology or equivalent (no post-qualification experience required); OR Bachelor's Degree in the same fields with 1 year of post-qualification experience |
In addition to formal qualifications, candidates must have relevant experience in at least one of the following areas: innovation and entrepreneurship, business development or strategic partnerships, program management, grant management, consulting/collaboration/partner management/HR, communications and outreach, design and implementation of challenges or hackathons, product management, IT operations, project management or product development (in a start-up or manufacturing industry), or finance/estimation/accounting.
DIO Individual Consultant Age Limit
| Post | Maximum Age (as on 10 August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Program Director (PD) | Below 55 years |
| Deputy Program Director (DPD) | Below 40 years |
| Program Executive (PE) | Below 30 years |
| Deputy Program Executive (DPE) | Below 26 years |
Age relaxation details are not specified in the official notification.
DIO Individual Consultant Salary (Consultancy Fee)
Selected candidates will be engaged as Individual Consultants and paid a consolidated monthly consultancy fee, inclusive of all taxes, as decided by the competent authority based on the recommendation of the Interview & Selection Committee.
| Post | Monthly Consultancy Fee (₹) |
|---|---|
| Program Director (PD) | ₹1,80,000 to ₹2,40,000 per month |
| Deputy Program Director (DPD) | ₹1,40,000 to ₹1,80,000 per month |
| Program Executive (PE) | ₹80,000 to ₹1,20,000 per month |
| Deputy Program Executive (DPE) | ₹40,000 to ₹80,000 per month |
The individual consultant is liable to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) as applicable, though provision exists for reimbursement of GST paid against the consultancy fee received. An annual increment of up to 10% of the existing consultancy fee may be given based on annual appraisal, as per DIO rules. However, during any extension period or at the time of annual increment, the monthly consultancy fee cannot exceed 1.80 times the initial monthly fee.
DIO Individual Consultant Selection Process
Candidates shortlisted from the applications received will be notified about the interview by email. Shortlisted candidates may be called for an in-person interview at New Delhi, or through Video Conferencing. The interview process may involve:
- Skill tests
- Personal interview
- Group discussions, debates, and/or quizzes
DIO will not entertain any queries regarding fare reimbursement or travel expenses for attending the interview.
Required Documents
The notification specifies that applicants must upload the required documents in a single PDF file (within the prescribed size limit) wherever mentioned in the online application form. A detailed itemized list of documents is not specified in the official notification; candidates should refer to the application form on www.idex.gov.in for the exact document requirements.
How to Apply for DIO Individual Consultant Recruitment 2026
Interested and eligible candidates can apply for the DIO Individual Consultant Recruitment 2026 by following these steps:
- Visit the official website: www.idex.gov.in
- Go to the "Career" section on the website.
- Locate the DIO Individual Consultant (Project Management Team) advertisement.
- Fill in the online application form with accurate personal, educational, and experience details.
- Upload the required documents as a single PDF file, within the prescribed file size.
- Submit the application online before 5:00 PM on 10 August 2026.
Applications are accepted only through the online mode. Applications received through any other mode will not be considered, and any deviation from the prescribed submission method (including file size limits) may result in immediate disqualification.
DIO Individual Consultant Recruitment 2026: Important Instructions
- The engagement is purely on a contract basis and does not confer any right to permanent absorption or regular engagement in DIO.
- The place of work is New Delhi; however, the consultant may be deputed to other locations as per DIO's requirements during the engagement period.
- Individual Consultants must not be engaged directly or indirectly in any other trade, business, occupation, or remunerative commitment while working full-time with DIO.
- Engagement is subject to acceptance of a Consultancy Contract (Undertaking/Bond) executed on a stamp paper of ₹200.
- Any extension of the contract after joining will be up to the date the consultant attains 60 years of age, whichever is earlier.
- Applicable Income Tax or other statutory deductions will be made at source before consultancy payments, and DIO will issue a TDS certificate.
- DIO reserves the right to terminate the hiring process or contract at any time without assigning any reason, and to increase, decrease, or not fill any of the advertised positions.
- DIO will not entertain queries regarding the hiring process, nor is it obligated to explain its hiring decisions to applicants.
- For further details or clarification, candidates may email [email protected]
DIO Individual Consultants Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here