Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment 2026 Through GATE: 25 Senior Field Officer (Technical) Posts | Eligibility, Salary, Last Date
Advt. No. 01/2026 · GATE Recruitment

Cabinet Secretariat Recruitment 2026 Through GATE: 25 Senior Field Officer (Technical) Posts

A rare Group A Gazetted opening that hires directly on your GATE score — no separate written exam. Here is the full eligibility, vacancy split, GATE cutoff logic, salary and application strategy.

Last Date: 12 July 2026 Mode: Offline (Ordinary Post) By Piyush Wairale · M.Tech, IIT Madras

TL;DR — Quick Answer

The Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India is recruiting 25 Senior Field Officers (Technical) directly through a valid GATE score (50%+ / 500+) from GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026. It is a Level-10, Group A Gazetted post paying approximately ₹1,30,000/month, posted initially at New Delhi.

  • Accepted GATE papers: CS, EC, DA, MA, CE
  • Selection: GATE score merit (100 marks) + Interview (20 marks) — no separate written exam
  • Apply by: 12 July 2026 via Ordinary Post to Lodhi Road HPO, New Delhi
  • Age: Not exceeding 35 years (relaxation as per Govt. rules)

Most GATE aspirants chase PSUs and IITs. Very few know that the Cabinet Secretariat — one of the most prestigious arms of the Government of India — quietly recruits technical officers purely on GATE merit. Advertisement No. 01/2026 is exactly that opportunity, and notably, it is one of the first central government notifications to formally accept the new GATE Data Science & AI (DA) paper.

This guide breaks down everything: who can apply, how many seats per branch, what GATE score you realistically need, the salary structure, and a clear application checklist so your offline form is not rejected.

Cabinet Secretariat SFO 2026 — Key Facts at a Glance

ParticularDetail
Recruiting BodyCabinet Secretariat, Government of India
Post NameSenior Field Officer (Technical)
Advertisement No.01/2026
Total Vacancies25
Grade / LevelLevel-10 Pay Matrix, Group A, Gazetted
Approx. Monthly Emoluments₹1,30,000 (incl. allowances)
Place of PostingNew Delhi (initial); all-India liability
Selection BasisGATE Score + Interview
Application ModeOffline — Ordinary Post
Last Date12 July 2026

Vacancy Breakdown & Accepted GATE Codes

Applications are accepted under five disciplines, each mapped to a specific GATE paper. You can apply for only one subject code.

DisciplineVacanciesGATE Code
Computer Science / Information Technology10CS
Electronics / Communication / Telecommunication10EC
Data Science / Artificial Intelligence (or CS with DS/AI specialisation)03DA
Mathematics01MA
Civil Engineering01CE
GATE DA aspirants, take note: The inclusion of the Data Science and AI (DA) paper with 3 dedicated seats is a strong signal — central recruiters are now formally valuing GATE DA. If you are preparing for GATE DA 2027, posts like this are precisely why this paper is worth investing in.

Eligibility Criteria 2026

1. Educational Qualification

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology, OR
  • Master's degree in Science, in the relevant discipline from a recognised University/Institution.

2. GATE Score Requirement

In addition to the degree, candidates must hold a valid GATE score of 50% or above (i.e. GATE score of 500+) in the corresponding paper. A score qualifies as valid only if obtained in GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026.

3. Age Limit

Not exceeding 35 years as on the closing date. Age relaxation applies for reserved categories as per Central Government orders. Indicative birth-date windows (closing date 12.07.2026):

CategoryBorn Between (both dates inclusive)
General / EWS13.07.1991 – 12.07.2008
OBC13.07.1988 – 12.07.2008
SC / ST13.07.1986 – 12.07.2008

Always confirm category-wise age relaxation against the official notification before applying.

Selection Process — No Separate Written Exam

This is the part that makes the post so attractive for serious GATE candidates: there is no fresh competitive written test. Your GATE score does the heavy lifting.

  • Shortlisting: All valid applications are arranged in merit order of GATE score, separately for each subject.
  • Interview call: Candidates up to five times the number of vacancies per subject are shortlisted for interview.
  • Final marks: GATE Score carries 100 marks; Interview carries 20 marks.
  • Post-selection: Character & antecedent verification and a medical examination.
What GATE score do you realistically need? The hard floor is 500. But because only ~5× vacancies are called per subject, the practical cutoff depends on your branch. For CS and EC (10 seats each → ~50 interview calls), a high-percentile score is competitive. For MA and CE with a single seat each, only an exceptional GATE rank gives a real shot.

Salary & Career Profile

The Senior Field Officer (Technical) is placed at Level-10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix as a Group A Gazetted Officer from day one. Total initial monthly emoluments, including all allowances, are approximately ₹1,30,000, with the initial place of posting at New Delhi and all-India transfer liability thereafter.

Beyond the pay, the appeal is the institution: working within the Cabinet Secretariat carries genuine prestige, structured career progression, and central-government job security.

How to Apply — Offline Checklist

The application is offline only. A clean, complete form is essential — incomplete, unsigned or non-prescribed-format applications are summarily rejected.

  • Fill the application form, typed on A-4 paper, in English capital (block) letters using black or blue ink.
  • Leave no column blank; do not attach photographs/documents not requested.
  • Self-attest copies of: matriculation & degree mark-sheets and certificates, valid GATE Score Card, age proof, birth certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), NOC from current employer (if applicable), undertaking, and two recent passport-size photographs (name & DOB on the back).
  • Send the complete application by Ordinary Post to: Post Bag No. 001, Lodhi Road Head Post Office, New Delhi – 110003.
  • Ensure it reaches on or before 12 July 2026. Retain a photocopy of the full application.
Always download and read the official Advertisement No. 01/2026 PDF from employmentnews.gov.in before applying. Figures here are compiled from the published notification (Employment News, 13–19 June 2026) and may be updated by official corrigendum.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Cabinet Secretariat job through GATE 2026?

Yes. The Cabinet Secretariat recruits Senior Field Officer (Technical) directly through GATE. A valid GATE score of 50% or above (500+) from GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 in CS, EC, DA, MA or CE makes you eligible to apply by 12 July 2026.

What GATE score is needed for Cabinet Secretariat SFO 2026?

The minimum is a GATE score of 500 (50% or above). Final shortlisting is on the merit of your valid GATE score, with candidates up to five times the vacancies per subject called for interview — so the effective cutoff is higher in branches with more applicants.

Which GATE papers are accepted?

Five papers: Computer Science & IT (CS), Electronics & Communication (EC), Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DA), Mathematics (MA) and Civil Engineering (CE). You may apply under only one code.

Is there a separate written exam after GATE?

No. Selection is based on GATE Score (100 marks) plus an Interview (20 marks). There is no additional competitive written test.

What is the salary of a Cabinet Secretariat Senior Field Officer?

It is a Level-10, Group A Gazetted post with approximate total monthly emoluments of ₹1,30,000 including all allowances, initially posted at New Delhi.

Is the application online or offline?

Strictly offline. The typed application in the prescribed format must be sent by Ordinary Post to Post Bag No. 001, Lodhi Road HPO, New Delhi – 110003, reaching by 12 July 2026.

Written by Piyush Wairale — M.Tech, IIT Madras (2021); GATE DA, Bank IT Officer & PSU exam educator. For more GATE-based recruitment guides and courses, visit piyushwairale.com.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. Candidates must verify all details from the official Cabinet Secretariat notification before applying.