The DRT Presiding Officer recruitment 2026 notice invites applications for Presiding Officer posts in Debts Recovery Tribunals across India. The Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, issued a corrigendum on 10 October 2026 to its earlier circular dated 1 October 2026. Applications must reach New Delhi by 5:00 PM on 9 November 2026. Overall, this is a judicial appointment for serving or retired District Judges and Indian Legal Service officers, not a regular exam-based job.
The notice lists 20 tribunal locations, four with current vacancies and sixteen with anticipated ones. In addition, it covers any unforeseen vacancy that may arise up to 30 April 2027. Moreover, a selected officer may be posted at any place of vacancy. Therefore, candidates should read every condition below before applying.
Information verified from the official Department of Financial Services corrigendum dated 10 October 2026 (F. No. 07/09/2026-DRT).
Last verified: 12 October 2026.
The Department of Financial Services is inviting applications from eligible District Judges and Indian Legal Service officers for Presiding Officer posts in Debts Recovery Tribunals. Applications, in the prescribed format with the listed documents, must reach the Under Secretary (DRT) by 5:00 PM on 9 November 2026. Selection is by a Search-cum-Selection Committee.
Table of Contents
- Quick summary of DRT Presiding Officer recruitment 2026
- About Debts Recovery Tribunals
- Important dates
- Vacancy details by tribunal
- Eligibility and qualification
- Selection process and tenure
- How to apply
- Important links
- FAQs
Quick Summary of DRT Presiding Officer Recruitment 2026
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India |
| Notice | Corrigendum dated 10 October 2026 to Vacancy Circular No. 07/09/2026-DRT dated 1 October 2026 |
| Post | Presiding Officer, Debts Recovery Tribunal |
| Tribunal locations listed | 20 (4 current and 16 anticipated vacancies) |
| Qualification | Is or has been a District Judge, or a member of the Indian Legal Service in Grade I or above |
| Tenure | Five years or until age 70, whichever is earlier |
| Selection | Search-cum-Selection Committee: scrutiny, shortlisting and personal interaction |
| Application mode | Offline, by post or hand to the Department in New Delhi |
| Last date | 5:00 PM on 9 November 2026 |
| Salary and fee | Not stated in the notice |
About Debts Recovery Tribunals
Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) are set up under the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993. They decide cases for the quick recovery of debts owed to banks and financial institutions. According to the notice, India has 39 such tribunals, and each is headed by a Presiding Officer.
For readers in our region, the list includes DRT Guwahati, DRT Siliguri and DRT-1 Kolkata. However, the notice says a Presiding Officer may be posted at any place of vacancy. Hence, candidates from Assam, North Bengal and the wider East and North East should not assume a local posting.
Important Dates for DRT Presiding Officer Recruitment 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Original vacancy circular | 1 October 2026 |
| Corrigendum issued | 10 October 2026 |
| Last date for receipt of applications | 9 November 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Unforeseen vacancies covered up to | 30 April 2027 |
The earlier circular had set 2 November 2026 as the closing date, according to the Department’s vacancy listing. Therefore, the corrigendum date of 9 November 2026 is the one to follow. The notice also says the last date of receipt decides the eligibility of an applicant.
Vacancy Details by Tribunal
Current vacancies
- DRT-3, Mumbai
- DRT-2, Chandigarh
- DRT, Allahabad
- DRT, Lucknow
Anticipated vacancies
- DRT-1, Chandigarh
- DRT, Visakhapatnam
- DRT-1, Hyderabad
- DRT, Cuttack
- DRT-1, Ernakulam
- DRT-1, Bengaluru
- DRT-2, Ernakulam
- DRT, Guwahati
- DRT, Pune
- DRT-3, Chandigarh
- DRT, Dehradun
- DRT-1, Kolkata
- DRT, Patna
- DRT, Nagpur
- DRT, Siliguri
- DRT-1, Chennai
The notice does not give category-wise reservation. Moreover, it does not state the pay. It says the qualifications, eligibility, salary and other terms will follow the National Tribunals Commission and Qualification, Selection and Conditions of Service of Chairpersons and Members of Tribunals Rules, 2026.
Eligibility for DRT Presiding Officer Recruitment 2026
Qualification
Under Rule 25(VI) of the 2026 Tribunals Rules, as quoted in the notice, a person is qualified only if he or she meets one of two conditions:
- Is, or has been, a District Judge.
- Is, or has been, a member of the Indian Legal Service in Grade I or above.
Serving officers and reappointment
Rule 28 requires a serving Supreme Court or High Court Judge, or a serving member of any Central or State Government service or undertaking, to resign or take voluntary retirement from the parent service before joining the Tribunal. In addition, Section 17(2) of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2026 makes a Chairperson or Member eligible for reappointment under Section 14 of that Act.
The notice does not set a separate age limit or application fee. However, it fixes the tenure limit at age 70.
Selection Process and Tenure
A Search-cum-Selection Committee will scrutinise the applications. It will give due weightage to qualification and experience, and shortlist candidates for a personal interaction. The final selection rests on the Committee’s overall evaluation of qualification, experience and the interaction.
A Presiding Officer holds office for five years or until the age of 70, whichever is earlier, under Section 17(1)(a) of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2026. No TA/DA is admissible for the interaction, so candidates must make their own travel arrangements.
One point needs care. The notice refers to the Search-cum-Selection Committee as constituted under the Tribunal Reforms Act 2021, but cites the 2026 Act elsewhere. Therefore, read the official PDF directly if the year matters to your case.
How to Apply for DRT Presiding Officer Recruitment 2026
Eligible and willing officers should apply through proper channel wherever applicable. The notice gives no online form. Follow these steps:
- Download the notice and the prescribed application form from the Department’s vacancies page.
- Fill in the bio-data proforma (Annexure-I) and sign it, with a signed photograph in the space provided.
- Get the employer or forwarding authority certificate (Annexure-II) and, for serving candidates, the vigilance clearance (Annexure-III).
- Attach the other documents listed below.
- Send the duly filled original application so that it reaches the Under Secretary (DRT), Department of Financial Services, 3rd Floor, Jeevan Deep Building, Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110001 by 5:00 PM on or before 9 November 2026.
Documents to keep ready
- Bio-data in the proforma at Annexure-I.
- Certificate from the employer, head of office or forwarding authority (Annexure-II), where applicable.
- Clear photocopies of the CR/APAR dossier for at least the last five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26, attested by a Group A officer. If a report of more than three months is missing, earlier reports with a No Report Certificate may be submitted.
- Cadre clearance, in the case of serving candidates.
- Integrity or vigilance clearance (Annexure-III), in the case of serving candidates.
- A statement of any major or minor penalties imposed in the last ten years.
Points to note in the proforma
The Annexure-I proforma asks for a write-up on adjudicating and administrative experience (not more than 200 words) and the number of cases disposed of in the past two years. In addition, candidates can give up to five posting preferences. The declaration says a candidate will not withdraw after the Committee meets, will not decline an appointment and will join within 30 days of the order. Violating these terms may lead to debarment for three years, as the form states.
Incomplete applications and those received after the due date will not be entertained. Moreover, the Department is not responsible for postal delay or loss, so send the application well before the deadline.
Important Links
| Details | Link |
|---|---|
| Corrigendum dated 10 October 2026 (PDF) | Download corrigendum PDF |
| Original vacancy circular dated 1 October 2026 (PDF) | Download original circular PDF |
| Department of Financial Services vacancies page | Open official vacancies page |
Should You Apply?
This notice suits only those who already meet the District Judge or Indian Legal Service condition and are ready to be posted at any listed tribunal. In addition, the five-year tenure, with an upper limit of age 70, makes it a long-term judicial role. It does not suit fresh law graduates.
Candidates who follow legal and judicial vacancies may also read our posts on the WB District Judge recruitment 2026 and the MPPSC Law Officer 2026 notice.
FAQs
What is the last date for DRT Presiding Officer applications?
Applications must reach the Under Secretary (DRT) by 5:00 PM on 9 November 2026. The corrigendum of 10 October 2026 gives this date, and an earlier circular had set 2 November 2026.
Who can apply for the Presiding Officer post in a DRT?
A person who is, or has been, a District Judge, or a member of the Indian Legal Service in Grade I or above, under Rule 25(VI) of the 2026 Tribunals Rules as quoted in the notice.
How many tribunals are covered?
The notice lists 20 Debts Recovery Tribunal locations: four with current vacancies and sixteen with anticipated vacancies. It also covers unforeseen vacancies arising up to 30 April 2027.
Is there an application fee or an online form?
The notice mentions no fee. Applications are made on the prescribed form, which is available on the Department’s website, and sent to the Department in New Delhi.
What is the tenure of a DRT Presiding Officer?
Five years or until the age of 70, whichever is earlier, as per Section 17(1)(a) of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2026.
Will the Department pay travel costs for the interaction?
No. The notice says no TA/DA is admissible, and candidates must make their own arrangements.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the official Department of Financial Services notice. Please verify all details on the official website before applying.