Consultant (Conflict of Laws / Private International Law) at Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi (Up to Rs 10,00,000 per annum)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, has invited applications for the engagement of 01 (one) Consultant in its Legal and Treaties-I (L&T-I) Division at New Delhi. The vacancy has been notified by the Administration Division of the Ministry from Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan under Advertisement No. Q/PF/575/35/2026-I dated 10 July 2026.

The L&T-I Division is the Ministry's in-house legal wing, handling India's treaty practice, international legal obligations and advice to the Government on questions of public and private international law. This particular engagement is focused on Conflict of Laws and Private International Law, including India's obligations under Conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) and UNIDROIT.

The engagement is for a period of 01 (one) year. The contract can be extended further depending on an assessment of performance, mutual willingness and the requirement of the Ministry. The contract may be terminated on one month's notice from either side, or on payment of one month's pay in lieu of notice. Unauthorised absence may lead to termination of the engagement.

The selected Consultant will be required to:

• Provide legal analysis and advisory support on private international law matters, including India's obligations under various Conventions under HCCH, UNIDROIT and similar bodies.
• Interpret and align Indian laws and judicial pronouncements with international treaty frameworks.
• Assist in drafting, reviewing and negotiating treaty texts, protocols and declarations related to HCCH and UNIDROIT Conventions.
• Prepare legal briefs, background notes and talking points for bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations involving conflict of laws issues.
• Monitor international legal developments, including decisions of international courts and tribunals, and assess their implications for India's treaty practice and domestic legal architecture.
• Conduct comparative legal research on treaty implementation models, compliance mechanisms and dispute resolution frameworks in private international law.
• Support inter-ministerial coordination with relevant Ministries, Departments and other agencies to ensure legal coherence in India's obligations under the private law Conventions India has adhered to.
• Undertake any other legal tasks assigned by the Head of Division, including support for strategic legal planning.

• The applicant should only be an Indian national.
• The applicant should hold a Post Graduate degree in International Law (LLM) from a reputed or recognised institution in India or abroad. Preference will be given to candidates having a specialisation in conflict of laws or private international law.
• The applicant should possess a minimum of 2 years of work experience.
• The applicant should be a registered law practitioner in India.
• The applicant should be in the age group of 25 to 35 years as on the last date of submission of the application.

Desirable: work experience in the Government of India may be preferred.

The Consultant will be posted at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. Depending on the requirement, the place of work may be South Block, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, Patiala House, the ISIL Building or the CCS Building.

• The remuneration package will be commensurate with the experience and profile of the selected candidate, subject to a maximum of Rs. 10,00,000 (Rupees Ten lakh only) per annum, and deduction of applicable taxes.
• The consultancy fee so fixed shall remain unchanged during the term of engagement.
• The engagement will be strictly contractual and will not confer any other benefits on the selected candidate.
• The Consultant shall not be entitled to Provident Fund, Pension, Gratuity, Medical Attendance Treatment, Seniority, Promotion or any other benefit available to regular employees of the Ministry. No HRA shall be admissible.
• If the Consultant is required to travel as part of the duties, the Ministry will take care of travel, accommodation and per diem costs as per the Ministry's guidelines.
• The selected person will be required to enter into a contract with the Ministry in a prescribed format with effect from the actual date of engagement.

• The engagement is on a full time basis. Normal working hours will be from 0900 to 1730 hrs, subject to change from time to time. Saturdays and Sundays will remain closed as weekend off.
• In exigencies the Consultant may be required to work beyond office hours or on holidays. No extra allowance or remuneration is admissible for such work.
• The Consultant shall not accept any other professional appointment, paid or otherwise, in the government or private sector or any other organisation during the term of engagement with the Ministry.
• Paid leave of absence may be allowed at the rate of 1.5 days for each completed month of service. Accumulation of leave beyond a calendar year may not be allowed and leave cannot be claimed as a matter of right.
• Leave will not be allowed for more than 10 days at a time. The Head of Division reserves the discretion to refuse or revoke leave in the public interest.
• Leave encashment will not be permissible on unspent leave, and unspent leave will lapse on commencement of the notice period. Absence beyond entitled leave will attract a proportionate deduction from the consolidated fee.

Eligible applicants must submit an application in the prescribed proforma at Annexure I of the advertisement, along with documents and certificates in support of educational qualifications and experience in government service. Applications may be submitted through either of the following modes:

• Offline mode: by registered post in an envelope labelled "Application for the position of Consultant (Conflict of Laws/Private International Law) in the L&T-I Division of Ministry of External Affairs", addressed to Under Secretary (PF&PG), Ministry of External Affairs, Room No. 4071, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, 23-D, Janpath, New Delhi 110011.
• Online mode: by email to aopfsec@mea.gov.in, with the subject line clearly mentioning the name of the candidate and the position applied against.

The last date for receiving applications is 31 July 2026 (1730 hrs).

• The Ministry of External Affairs will review the applications and shortlist candidates for an interview or written test. Shortlisted candidates will be intimated by email.
• Incomplete applications and those received without supporting documents will be summarily rejected.
• The date, time and venue of the interview will be conveyed by email at the address provided by the applicant.
• Applicants will have to make their own arrangements to reach the place of interview. No TA or DA will be payable by the Ministry for attending the interview.
• Applications received after the closing date and time, or not in the prescribed proforma, will be rejected and no correspondence will be entertained in this regard.
• The decision of the Government regarding selection of the candidate will be final.