DIO Program Executive (Legal) Recruitment 2026

DIO is hiring 1 Program Executive (Legal) for its iDEX team under the Ministry of Defence. If you have an LLB with 4 years' experience or an LLM with 2 years' experience, you can apply online. The last date to apply is 10 August 2026. This is a full-time contract role with a monthly consultancy fee of Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1,20,000, and the place of work is New Delhi.

Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) Program Executive (Legal) Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), a Section-8 company set up by defence PSUs HAL and BEL, runs the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework under the Ministry of Defence. Launched in April 2018, iDEX supports startups, MSMEs, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia building defence and aerospace technology by giving them grants and other funding support. DIO has released an advertisement (No. DIO/Advertisement/IC-Legal/2026(I)) to hire a legal professional as an Individual Consultant for its Legal Team. This is a full-time contract role, not a regular government job — the initial engagement is for 3 years, extendable up to 5 years, and in exceptional cases even further with approval of the DIO Board. You will be the in-house legal expert handling compliance and advisory work for a fast-growing defence innovation ecosystem.

As DIO's dedicated legal team is still growing, you will directly shape how the organisation handles contracts, IP matters, grant agreements and compliance across its interactions with hundreds of startups and MSMEs. You will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and senior DIO officials on high-visibility legal matters connected to India's defence innovation program, giving you exposure that is hard to find elsewhere at this stage of your career. This kind of direct legal ownership at a national innovation program is a rare opportunity for a young lawyer looking to specialise in technology, defence and startup law.

Who Can Apply?

• Qualification: LLB with 4 years of post-qualification experience, or LLM with 2 years of post-qualification experience
• Experience: You should have worked as a legal adviser or executive for a company, government department, or PSU, or have experience in legal documentation, case filing or representation in court, contract management, legal interpretation, or arbitration
• Knowledge: Familiarity with the acts, rules and regulations applicable to startups, MSMEs, government departments and companies is required — this includes contract law, arbitration procedures, and grant or funding agreements typically used in government schemes

What You'll Work On

• Handle all legal compliance matters applicable to DIO
• Provide legal advice, interpretation and decisions on legal documents and clauses
• Represent DIO in legal matters and proceedings
• Draft and vet consultancy contracts, grant agreements and MoUs for iDEX partners
• Maintain a repository of all executed agreements, contracts and legal correspondence
• Take up any other legal work assigned by the COO or a senior authority in DIO

Good to Have

• Experience working with Ministries, PSUs, or other defence-related organisations on legal matters
• Familiarity with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Companies Act, and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) provisions

Age Limit

• You should be below 30 years old as on 10 August 2026.

Salary

• You will get a consolidated monthly consultancy fee of Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1,20,000, inclusive of all taxes.
• You get an annual increase of up to 10% in your consultancy fee based on your appraisal, and GST paid on the fee is reimbursed by DIO.
• Income tax will be deducted at source as per the applicable rules, and DIO will issue a TDS certificate.
• This is a contract engagement and does not confer any right to permanent absorption or regular employment in DIO.

Selection Process

The selection will be done in the following stages:

1. Shortlisting: Shortlisted candidates are informed by email.
2. Skill Test and Interview: You may be called for an in-person interview at New Delhi or through video conferencing, which can include skill tests, a personal interview, and group discussions/debates/quizzes.

DIO does not reimburse travel expenses for attending the interview.

Once selected, you will need to accept the Offer of Engagement and sign a Consultancy Contract before joining. DIO does not guarantee any fixed number of positions and reserves the right to increase, decrease, or not fill the advertised post.

How to Apply

1. Keep scanned copies of your degree certificates, experience letters and ID proof ready before you start.
2. Go to idex.gov.in and open the Career section.
3. Fill in the online application form for Program Executive (Legal).
4. Upload all your supporting documents as a single PDF file within the prescribed size.
5. Submit your application before the deadline.

Only online applications are accepted — applications sent through any other mode will not be considered. For queries, email eo-dio@ddpmod.gov.in or call 011-20832018.

Important Dates

• Advertisement Date: 8 July 2026
• Online Application Start: 8 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 10 August 2026 (till 5:00 PM)

• Handle legal compliance matters applicable to DIO and its iDEX operations
• Draft, review and interpret legal documents, agreements and clauses
• Represent DIO in legal proceedings and disputes
• Advise the iDEX management on legal risks and contract terms
• Track changes in laws and regulations affecting startups, MSMEs and government bodies
• Support arbitration and case filing processes when required
• Coordinate with external legal counsel when needed