New Delhi | October 12, 2026

The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has invited applications for three Domain Consultant positions on a contractual basis, seeking experienced professionals with expertise in skilling, vocational education and training (VET), and India’s wider skills development ecosystem.

According to the official notification dated October 8, 2026, the recruitment is primarily aimed at experienced professionals who have retired from senior positions in government, regulatory bodies, universities, academic or research institutions, and the private sector.

Eligible applicants must submit their applications in the prescribed format, along with supporting documents, by November 16, 2026. Both a hard-copy application and a scanned copy sent by email are mandatory under the notification.

The recruitment is significant for India’s skills ecosystem because the selected consultants will support NCVET’s work on qualification scrutiny, alignment with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), industry relevance, stakeholder consultations and policy development.

NCVET Domain Consultant Recruitment 2026: Key Details

1. Recruiting organisation: National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)
2. Administrative ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
3. Post: Domain Consultant
4. Number of vacancies: 3
5. Nature of engagement: Contractual
6. Notification date: October 8, 2026
7. Application deadline: November 16, 2026
8. Application mode: Prescribed application form submitted by post and scanned copy by email
9. Hard-copy submission address: Director (A&F), NCVET, 4th Floor, Kaushal Bhawan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110023
10. Email: career.ncvet@gmail.com
11. Email subject: “Applications for the post of Domain Consultant”

The number of vacancies is tentative. NCVET reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of posts or withdraw the advertisement according to its requirements.

What will the Domain Consultants do?

NCVET functions as an overarching national regulator within India’s vocational education and training ecosystem. Among its responsibilities is scrutinising qualifications submitted by recognised Awarding Bodies, ensuring alignment with the NSQF and assessing whether qualifications meet current industry requirements.

The selected consultants may contribute to several areas of work, including:

• Scrutiny and review of qualifications submitted by NCVET-recognised Awarding Bodies.
• Assessment of alignment with the National Skills Qualifications Framework.
• Examination of whether qualifications reflect current industry requirements.
• Stakeholder consultations and policy formulation.
• Recognition of entities and monitoring of recognised bodies.
• Other responsibilities assigned by the competent authority.

The assignment is therefore intended for experienced professionals who can bring subject-matter knowledge, strategic thinking and practical understanding of how vocational qualifications and skills policies operate.

Which domains are covered?

Applicants must demonstrate expertise in skilling, VET and the skills ecosystem in one or more of the following areas:

1. Agriculture and Food Technology

Professionals with relevant experience in agriculture-related skills, food technology, vocational training or associated industry requirements may be eligible, subject to the full criteria.

2. Hospitality, Tourism and Services

This domain covers expertise relevant to hospitality, tourism, services and their associated training and qualification requirements.

3. Industry 4.0, Manufacturing Technology and Logistics

This domain is relevant to professionals familiar with modern manufacturing, industrial technologies, logistics and the changing skill requirements of technology-enabled workplaces.

The notification also identifies potentially relevant experience in government regulatory bodies, the social and development sector, policy and planning, programme implementation and monitoring, technology and ICT, government consulting, finance, and international development agencies.

Eligibility criteria: Who can apply?

The notification establishes specific retirement-level, educational, professional and age requirements.

1. Previous employment and seniority

Applicants from government and related institutions should have retired from Central Government ministries or departments, State Governments, autonomous organisations, regulatory institutions, universities, or academic and research institutions at the level of Director, Deputy Secretary or Joint Director in Pay Level 13 or 12.

Applicants from the private sector must have drawn a minimum gross annual salary of ₹20 lakh in at least one of the five years preceding retirement, supported by Form 16 or income-tax return documentation, as applicable.

Candidates should carefully check the notification’s precise requirements and documentary evidence before applying.

2. Educational qualifications

The notification specifies the following educational qualification routes:

• A Master’s degree or a professional degree obtained after a minimum of four years of study following Class 12; or
• B.E. or B.Tech.; a two-year postgraduate diploma in management or MBA; CA; ICWA; LL.B.; or MBBS.

The prescribed qualifications are subject to the wording and conditions in the official notice. Applicants should ensure their credentials meet the stated requirements.

3. Professional capabilities

Candidates should possess:

• Strategic thinking and the ability to formulate recommendations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• The ability to articulate ideas and contribute to the development of India’s skills ecosystem.
• Relevant domain expertise in skilling, vocational education and training.

4. Desirable qualifications and experience

The notification states that preference may be given to candidates with additional qualifications such as MBA in Data Science, M.Tech., M.S. or LL.M., as well as relevant research experience, published papers and post-qualification experience.

Candidates who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, particularly in policy formulation or research published in reputed journals, may also receive preference.

5. Age limits

The notification specifies the following upper age limits as of the last date for receiving applications:

• Retired government personnel: Maximum 62 years.
• Retired private-sector personnel: Maximum 58 years.

An exception may be considered for a retired person who has exceeded the applicable limit but is already engaged as a consultant in a ministry or department and has the required expertise in skilling, VET and skill education. However, the notification states that any person who has attained 64 years of age is ineligible for engagement.

Applicants should read the age provisions in full before applying.

Remuneration: What will selected consultants receive?

The remuneration arrangements differ according to whether the selected candidate retired from government service or the private sector.

For retired government servants: Remuneration will be regulated under applicable Government of India rules and instructions on a pay-minus-pension basis. A fixed transport allowance for commuting between residence and the workplace will also be admissible, subject to the applicable ceiling or rate at retirement. The fixed amount will remain unchanged during the engagement.

For retired private-sector personnel: The stated remuneration is ₹1.50 lakh per month, with the possibility of additional remuneration depending on the candidate’s experience and expertise, to be determined through negotiation. The remuneration fixed for the engagement will remain unchanged during the contract period.

The applicable terms and conditions should be reviewed carefully before accepting an engagement.

Tenure and selection procedure

The engagement will initially be for one year or until further orders, whichever is earlier. It may be extended subject to satisfactory performance, continuing functional requirements and approval from the competent authority.

The contract cannot extend beyond the date on which the consultant attains 65 years of age.

The selection process will involve shortlisting applications on the basis of qualifications and experience. Only shortlisted candidates will be informed by email and invited to appear for a test or interview.

The engagement is full-time. The stated working hours are 9 am to 5.30 pm on working days, including a half-hour lunch break. Consultants will not be permitted to take up another full-time or part-time assignment during the engagement. They may also be required to work on Saturdays, Sundays or gazetted holidays when necessary.

The notification provides for 1.5 days of leave for each completed month of engagement. Other provisions address travel allowances, tax deductions, confidentiality, conflicts of interest and termination.

How to apply for NCVET Domain Consultant Recruitment 2026

Applications must be submitted in the prescribed format provided as Annexure I to the notification.

Step 1: Obtain the official notification and application form.

Review the recruitment advertisement and both annexures to understand the eligibility requirements, remuneration, responsibilities and contractual conditions.

Step 2: Complete the application form.

Provide the requested personal information, educational qualifications, retirement details, professional experience, skills and other relevant information. Applicants should specify the domain or domains in which they have expertise.

Step 3: Attach supporting documents.

The notification requires relevant self-certified documents, including:

• Retirement notification and Pension Payment Order (PPO), where applicable.
• Bank account statements and Form 16 or income-tax returns for retired private-sector personnel, as required by the notice.
• Certificates supporting educational qualifications, skills and professional experience.
• Other relevant documents specified in the application form.

Step 4: Send the hard-copy application.

Place the completed application and supporting documents in a sealed cover marked “Engagement of Domain Consultant on contract basis in NCVET” and send it to:

Director (A&F)
National Council for Vocational Education & Training
4th Floor, Kaushal Bhawan
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110023

Step 5: Email a scanned copy.

Send the scanned application form and enclosures to career.ncvet@gmail.com, using the subject line “Applications for the post of Domain Consultant”.

Both submission methods are mandatory. The application must reach the office by November 16, 2026; applicants should allow sufficient time for postal delivery.

Why this recruitment matters for India’s skills development system

The NCVET recruitment is not a conventional entry-level employment drive. It seeks experienced professionals who can help strengthen the systems through which vocational qualifications are reviewed, recognised and aligned with industry requirements.

As occupations evolve through technological change and shifts in the economy, qualifications need to reflect the knowledge and capabilities employers actually require. Regulatory oversight, credible assessment and stakeholder engagement are important to maintaining confidence in the vocational education system.

The selected consultants will be expected to contribute professional judgement and domain knowledge to this work. Their experience may help NCVET assess qualifications, engage stakeholders and support policy decisions affecting the wider skills ecosystem.

The larger challenge for India is to ensure that qualifications represent meaningful capabilities rather than credentials alone. Strong standards and relevant qualifications can help learners, training providers and employers make better-informed decisions—but their value ultimately depends on how effectively they connect learning with workplace requirements.

Conclusion

NCVET has invited applications for three contractual Domain Consultant positions aimed at experienced professionals with expertise in skilling, vocational education and training, and related sectors. The roles carry responsibilities involving qualification scrutiny, NSQF alignment, industry relevance, stakeholder consultations and policy development.

Eligible applicants must submit both the prescribed hard-copy application and the scanned application by email by November 16, 2026. The selection will be based on shortlisting by qualifications and experience, followed by a test or interview for shortlisted candidates.

For SkillCouncils.Com, the key takeaway is that a credible skills ecosystem depends not only on training delivery, but also on strong qualification standards, effective regulation and experienced professionals who can connect vocational education with the changing needs of industry.