NDC Consultant Recruitment 2026 – Apply Offline

One full-time post of Consultant (Subject Matter Expert) is open at the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, for 12 months (01 January 2027 to 31 December 2027, extendable for another 12 months) at Rs 65,000/- to Rs. 80,000/- per month, depending upon pay level. The qualification is the NDC course or equivalent, with expertise in National Security & Strategies, and the detailed advertisement invites retired Indian nationals who are NDC qualified. The application in the Annexure-I format goes to The Commandant, NDC, by registered mail or by hand; the last date of application is 28 November 2026, while paragraph 2 of the detailed advertisement says applications may be sent up to 20 November 2026.

NDC Consultant (SME) at a Glance

The official notification does not specify the application fee.

About NDC

The National Defence College is located at 6 - Tees January Marg, New Delhi and functions under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The Consultant (SME) will support the NDC course, and according to the Terms of Reference the Consultant engaged at NDC would be working as Senior Directing Staff for all practical purposes.

Who Can Apply

The short advertisement invites Indian nationals, and the detailed advertisement invites retired Indian nationals who are NDC qualified from National Defence College, New Delhi.

• Qualification: NDC course or equivalent, with expertise in National Security & Strategies.
• Profile: The candidate must be a practitioner-scholar with preferably a PhD degree, an outstanding professional record within national security establishments, and a distinguished academic and publishing record.
• Additional qualifying requirements: Necessary teaching and research assignments in India and/or abroad.
• Knowledge and ability: Candidates would need to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the national security system and possess the ability to suitably mentor operational practitioners undergoing the NDC course.
• Age limit: Age of the candidate should not be more than 65 years as on 31 December 2027.

The notice does not mention any age relaxation. For the full eligibility conditions of the post, candidates should check the official notification.

Pay and Tenure

The maximum monthly remuneration of the Consultant (SME), depending upon pay level, is Rs 65,000/- (Rupees Sixty-Five Thousand only) to Rs. 80,000/- (Rupees Eighty Thousand only). TDS as admissible will be deducted from the monthly remuneration, and the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officer will issue a TDS certificate on demand.

• Allowances: The Consultant (SME) is not entitled to any kind of allowance or accommodation facility, for example Dearness Allowance, Transport Facility, Residential Accommodation, Personal Staff, CGHS and Medical Reimbursement.
• TA/DA: No TA/DA is admissible for joining the assignment or on its completion. Foreign travel is not permitted at all. For official travel inside the country, TA/DA as admissible to a regular employee of the grade he/she retired from will be paid after approval of the competent authority.
• Pension: A retired Government official appointed as Consultant (SME) continues to draw pension and dearness relief on pension during the engagement, which is not considered a case of re-employment.
• Leave: Eight (08) days of leave in a calendar year on pro-rata basis. No remuneration is paid for absence beyond the admissible leave, and un-availed leave is neither carried forward nor encashed.
• Working hours: 09:00 AM to 05:30 PM; as per exigency, one may have to sit late to complete specific time-bound work.
• Period of engagement: 12 months, 01 January 2027 to 31 December 2027 (extendable for another 12 months). Paragraph 7.1 of the detailed advertisement states that the initial engagement would be as mentioned in the offer letter or eleven months, whichever is less.
• Nature: Full-time and of a temporary (non-official) nature for a specific assignment; no other assignment may be taken up during the consultancy.

NDC Consultant (SME) Job Description

Under the Terms of Reference (Annexure-II), the Consultant (SME) would be expected to carry out the following minimum tasks:

• Conduct Integrated Analysis Group (IAG) meetings.
• Conduct one of the modules as assigned by the College.
• Guide the Course Members (up to a maximum of 18 members) assigned to him/her in selection of topics, completion of thesis and their internal evaluation/assessment, including viva voce.
• Attend selected lectures, panel discussions and presentations conducted as part of training activity and promulgated in the weekly training programme of NDC.
• Assess all written assignments submitted by the assigned Course Members, including recommendation for publication in NDC Journal.
• Supervise presentations given by the assigned Course Members.
• Attend all faculty meetings and other deliberations organised in connection with running of the NDC course.

Tasks are to be completed as per the published Block Calendar and weekly training programme for the current NDC course.

How to Apply for NDC Consultant (SME)

1. Fill in the application in the prescribed format given as Annexure-I ("Application for the Post of Consultant at National Defence College, New Delhi") in the notice.
2. Paste a recent passport size photograph on the form.
3. Enclose the copies the form asks for (listed below).
4. Sign the declaration on the form with place, date and full name.
5. Send the duly completed form by registered mail or by hand, addressed to The Commandant, National Defence College, 6 - Tees January Marg, New Delhi – 110011.
6. The form should be sent within 21 days of the publication of the notification; the last date of application is printed as 28 November 2026, and paragraph 2 of the detailed advertisement says up to 20 November 2026.

Documents named in the notice

• Recent passport size photograph
• Copy of retirement order
• Copy of last pay drawn
• Copy of education/technical qualification certificate/mark sheet
• Copy of PPO
• Brief particulars of experience of the last 10 years (assignment-wise) – a separate sheet may be annexed

The form also asks for date of birth, contact details, address for communication, date of joining government service, age, whether SC/ST/OBC, whether physically handicapped, the Ministry/Department/Organisation from which retired, and details of computer knowledge.

Selection and Interview

Applications completed in all respects will be screened by a Screening-cum-Selection Committee of three members: the Commandant, NDC (Chairman), the Senior most Senior Directing Staff, NDC (Member) and the Secretary, NDC (Member). The Committee shall hold a personal interaction with the shortlisted candidates, if required. Selection would be purely on merit in accordance with qualification and experience, and the decision of the Committee is final.

The selected candidate will receive an offer letter with the terms and conditions of engagement, and no Consultant (SME) is allowed to join without first submitting an undertaking accepting those terms.

Important Dates

Important Instructions

• NDC can terminate the engagement at any time without assigning any reason by giving 15 days' prior notice; a Consultant who wishes to resign must give 15 days' advance notice or remuneration in lieu thereof.
• NDC may also terminate the engagement if the Consultant is unable to address the assigned work, the quality of work is not satisfactory, milestones are not achieved in time, or he/she is found lacking in honesty and integrity; due opportunity to explain will be given first.
• Intellectual Property Rights of collected material and deliverables remain with NDC; no data or information may be used, published or disclosed without the written consent of the Commandant NDC.
• The entire set of records must be handed over to NDC before expiry of the contract and before the final payment is released.
• The Consultant shall not give opinion or advice to others adverse to the interest of NDC, and will not be entitled to any benefit, compensation, absorption or regularisation of service with NDC.
• NDC has the right to cancel the advertisement at any stage and may accept or reject any or all applications without stating reasons.
• By the declaration on the form, candidature is liable to be rejected if any information is found false, incorrect or incomplete, or ineligibility is detected before or after selection/interview.

Important Links