The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has issued a fresh circular dated 3 October 2026 to fill 7 senior posts on deputation basis.
The vacancies are for Director, Secretary, General Manager and Deputy General Manager in Pay Levels 11 to 13. This is not a normal open direct-recruitment drive: eligibility is primarily for serving officers who satisfy the prescribed feeder-service conditions, and applications must be forwarded through the proper channel.
Deadline note: APEDA has not printed a fixed calendar closing date in the circular. The application must reach APEDA within 30 days from the date of publication in Employment News. Before working out the receipt deadline, candidates should confirm the date of that Employment News issue.
APEDA Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India |
| Circular date | 3 October 2026 |
| Recruitment mode | Deputation |
| Total vacancies | 7 |
| Posts | Director, Secretary, General Manager, Deputy General Manager |
| Pay levels | Level 11 to Level 13, post-wise |
| Maximum age | 56 years as on the closing date |
| Initial deputation period | 2 years |
| Maximum continuous deputation | 5 years, subject to the circular conditions |
| Application mode | Offline through proper channel |
| Closing rule | Within 30 days from Employment News publication |
| Application fee | Not specified in the circular |
| Place of posting | Not specified in the circular |
Post-Wise Vacancy and Pay Level
| Post | Vacancies | Pay Level | Pay Matrix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | 1 | Level 13 | ₹1,23,100–₹2,15,900 |
| Secretary | 1 | Level 12 | ₹78,800–₹2,09,200 |
| General Manager | 2 | Level 12 | ₹78,800–₹2,09,200 |
| Deputy General Manager | 3 | Level 11 | ₹67,700–₹2,08,700 |
| Total | 7 | — | — |
Because the four post groups have different pay levels, candidates should use the post-wise pay shown above rather than treating this recruitment as having one common salary scale.
Eligibility for Director
The Director post is open to an officer of the Organized Group 'A' Services of the Central Government who:
- holds an analogous post on a regular basis; or
- has five years of regular service in Pay Level 12.
The circular also provides an APEDA feeder route for a General Manager/Secretary of APEDA with five years of regular service in the post.
Eligibility for Secretary
The Secretary post is open to an officer of the Organized Group 'A' Services of the Central Government who:
- holds an analogous post on a regular basis; or
- has five years of regular service in Pay Level 11.
The circular additionally provides an APEDA feeder route for a Deputy General Manager of APEDA with five years of regular service in the post.
The circular refers to the DoPT list of Organized Group 'A' Services under OM No. I-11019/5/2017-CRD dated 3 April 2017.
General Manager Eligibility
For General Manager, eligible feeder organisations include the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, Public Sector Undertakings, Universities, recognised research institutions, semi-government organisations, autonomous bodies and statutory organisations.
The officer must:
- hold an analogous post on regular appointment in the parent cadre/department; or
- have five years of regular service in Pay Level 11; and
- satisfy the educational qualification and post-qualification experience requirement below.
Deputy General Manager Eligibility
For Deputy General Manager, the same broad feeder-organisation categories apply. The officer must:
- hold an analogous post on regular appointment in the parent cadre/department; or
- have five years of regular service in Pay Level 10; and
- satisfy the educational qualification and post-qualification experience requirement below.
Essential Qualification for General Manager and Deputy General Manager
The circular accepts a Post Graduate Degree from a recognised university/institution in one of the notified fields, including:
- Agriculture, Horticulture or Plantation;
- Agriculture Engineering, Agriculture and Cooperation;
- Veterinary Science, Dairy Science or Dairy Technology;
- Food Processing, Food Processing Technology, Food Technology, Food Science or Food Science and Technology;
- Foreign Trade, International Business or International Trade;
- Agriculture Business Management or Horticulture Business Management;
- Agriculture Marketing or Horticulture Marketing;
- Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, or Agriculture with specialisation in Agronomy or Agricultural Economy;
- Finance, Financial Management or MBA (Finance).
Alternatively, candidates may possess Chartered Accountancy from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
In addition to the qualification, the circular requires five years of experience in the above fields after acquiring the prescribed educational qualification.
Desirable: publication of papers in international journals in the relevant fields.
Age Limit
| Requirement | Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum age for deputation | 56 years |
| Relevant date | Closing date of receipt of applications |
Once the Employment News publication date establishes the closing date, candidates can check their exact age with the check the exact age here.
Deputation Period and Important Service Conditions
The initial period of deputation is two years, extendable on a year-to-year basis. The maximum continuous deputation period is five years.
The circular also says that the deputation period, including an ex-cadre deputation held immediately before this appointment in the same or another Central/State Government, statutory or autonomous organisation/body, should ordinarily not exceed five years.
For the General Manager/Deputy General Manager feeder structure, departmental officers who are directly in the line of promotion are not eligible for consideration on deputation, and officers on deputation are not eligible for promotion consideration. If an eligible departmental feeder officer is appointed, the vacancy is treated as filled by promotion.
Pay Option on Deputation
An officer selected on deputation may opt to draw:
- his or her existing pay plus deputation (duty) allowance; or
- pay fixed in the scale/pay level of the post,
in accordance with the Government of India instructions referred to in the APEDA circular.
Application Form to Use
| Post | Prescribed form |
|---|---|
| Director / Secretary | Annexure-I |
| General Manager / Deputy General Manager | Annexure-II |
Applicants should use the correct annexure for the post being applied for and fill the service, pay-level, qualification and experience sections carefully.
Documents to Be Forwarded Through the Proper Channel
| Document / clearance | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Prescribed application form | Duly filled and signed |
| ACRs/APARs | Last 5 years, with each page duly attested by the competent officer specified in the circular |
| Cadre Clearance | Required |
| Vigilance Clearance | Required |
| Integrity Certificate | Required |
| Major/minor penalty statement | Details for the last 10 years |
| Qualification records | Relevant to the post applied for |
| Experience/service records | To establish the prescribed feeder service and/or post-qualification experience |
The application form also asks for chronological employment details, regular pay level, nature of duties, past deputation details, present employment status and relevant achievements.
Where to Send the Application
The completed application with all required documents must be forwarded through the proper channel to:
Deputy General Manager (Personnel) Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) 3rd Floor, NCUI Building, 3 Institutional Area August Kranti Marg, New Delhi – 110016
There is no online application link in this circular.
How to Apply
- Open the official APEDA recruitment announcement.
- Download the APEDA deputation circular and prescribed forms.
- Confirm whether you satisfy the feeder-service requirement for the specific post.
- For General Manager/Deputy General Manager, verify the exact postgraduate/CA qualification and the required five years of post-qualification experience.
- Use Annexure-I for Director/Secretary or Annexure-II for General Manager/Deputy General Manager.
- Complete the employment history, regular pay-level and nature-of-duties entries accurately.
- Route the application through the employer/cadre-controlling authority.
- Ensure the sponsoring authority forwards the required ACR/APAR, cadre, vigilance, integrity and penalty documents.
- Make sure the complete application reaches APEDA within the notified 30-day Employment News window.
For general document-preparation guidance, candidates may also review the Regal Naukri Career Guides.
Selection Information
The circular does not announce a written examination, syllabus or a separate interview schedule. The prescribed application form states that the candidate's essential qualification and work-experience documents will be assessed by the Selection Committee at the time of selection.
Candidates should not assume an exam pattern or selection stage that APEDA has not notified.
Important Candidate Cautions
- Do not calculate a fixed last date from the 3 October 2026 website/circular date unless the corresponding Employment News publication date is confirmed.
- Applications received after the applicable closing date will not be considered.
- The application must move through the proper channel with the required sponsoring-authority certifications.
- For GM/DGM, five years of experience must be after acquiring the prescribed educational qualification.
- The maximum age of 56 years is measured on the closing date.
- The circular states that a selected candidate will not be permitted to withdraw candidature subsequently on any ground.
- Do not send an application fee unless APEDA issues a separate instruction; the present circular does not specify one.
Important Links
| Link | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Official APEDA Recruitment Announcement | Current APEDA circular listing |
| Official APEDA Circular PDF | Complete three-page circular and prescribed forms |
| APEDA Official Website | Organisation website |
| Browse current openings | Other current recruitment notices |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are in APEDA Recruitment 2026?
There are 7 vacancies: 1 Director, 1 Secretary, 2 General Manager and 3 Deputy General Manager posts.
Is this direct recruitment?
No. The circular is for filling the posts on deputation basis, subject to the post-specific feeder eligibility.
What is the last date?
APEDA states that the application must reach the authority within 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in Employment News. The circular itself does not print a fixed calendar closing date.
What is the age limit?
The maximum age for appointment by deputation is 56 years as on the closing date.
What qualification is required for General Manager and Deputy General Manager?
Candidates need one of the notified postgraduate qualifications or Chartered Accountancy from ICAI, together with five years of relevant post-qualification experience.
Is there an application fee?
The circular does not specify an application fee.
Can I apply online?
No online application facility is given in the circular. Applications must be forwarded offline through the proper channel with the prescribed supporting documents.