DDP Planning Officer (ES) Recruitment 2026

DDP Planning Officer (ES) Recruitment 2026: Overview

The Department of Defence Production (DDP) under the Ministry of Defence wants a Planning Officer (Electronics Systems) for its Directorate of Planning and Coordination in New Delhi. The post will be filled by transfer on deputation, so it is meant for officers who already serve in the government, the armed forces, DRDO or a public sector undertaking.

DDP first issued the vacancy circular in May 2026 and has since pushed the closing date back more than once. If you are an electronics or signals specialist looking for a policy-level role in defence production, this is a post worth a close look.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Who can come on deputation: Officers of the All India Services, or officers holding analogous posts in Central Civil Services Group A.
• Defence and DRDO officers: Officers holding analogous posts in DRDO, the Army, the Air Force or the Navy are also in the zone of consideration.
• PSU officers: Officers from public sector undertakings holding equivalent posts can be taken on a short-term contract instead of regular deputation.
• Serving Service officers: Officers holding the substantive rank of Colonel, Captain (Navy) or Group Captain can apply.
• Technical background: You need an engineering degree in Electronics, Electronics and Telecommunication or Electrical, or you should come from the Signals or EME Corps of the Indian Army or the matching directorate in another Service.
• Tenure: Deputation will normally not go beyond 5 years. Any deputation on another ex-cadre post held just before this one counts towards that limit.
• Pay: A civilian officer's pay on deputation is fixed under existing government orders. Service officers keep drawing their pay and allowances from their own CDA.
• No withdrawal: Once you apply, you will not be allowed to withdraw your candidature, and you must give an undertaking to that effect.
• Vigilance clearance: Your administrative authority must certify that your details are correct and that no disciplinary or vigilance case is pending or contemplated against you.

Application Submission Notes

This is an offline, through-proper-channel application. Fill the proforma attached to the vacancy circular, get it recommended by your administrative authority, and send it with your ACR/APAR dossier or attested copies of the last 5 years' ACRs/APARs.

Address it to the Joint Director (Administration and Coordination), Directorate of Planning and Coordination, Ministry of Defence, 5th Floor, Room No. 501, C Block, Defence Office Complex, K G Marg, New Delhi 110001. Applications sent in any other format will not be accepted.

Corrigenda and Notices

• Original vacancy circular No. 18(1)/2026/PO(ES)/DP(A&C) dated 21 May 2026: announced the post with a 45-day window for applications.
• Earlier extensions: DDP published extension notices in July and August 2026, each moving the closing date forward.
• Latest extension, September 2026: the last date for receiving applications through proper channel is now 5 October 2026.

• Study and analyse information on electronics, communication, radar and satellite technology relevant to defence
• Carry out technical evaluation in the electronics systems field and track new technology trends
• Evaluate electronics proposals from Service Headquarters and advise on Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) and categorisation
• Represent DDP in Make projects, Technical Evaluation Committees, Technical Offset Evaluation Committees and Contract Negotiation Committees
• Process manpower, finance and project proposals of Defence PSUs and organise Project Management Board meetings
• Analyse production capacity and the need for raw materials and finished products in defence factories
• Handle transfer-of-technology matters under contracts and work closely with R&D bodies and production agencies