DIO Individual Consultants Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for Program Executive, Program Director and More Posts

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.

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.

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.

1. Skill tests
2. Personal interview
3. Group discussions, debates, and/or quizzes