Law Jobs update by Akinchan Aggarwal, Advocate — B.A. (Hons.), LL.B. (Gold Medalist), LL.M. (Disputes Resolution), UGC-NET, Ph.D. (Pursuing)
The Technology Development Board (TDB) — a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India — has invited applications from Indian citizens for 2 posts of Assistant Law Officer at its New Delhi office.
The numbers are worth stating up front: ₹70,000 to ₹90,000 per month as consolidated emoluments, a three-year contract, an age ceiling of 40 years, and an eligibility bar of LL.B. with five years of experience focused on Corporate or Company Law. Applications close on 25 September 2026 at 5:00 PM — and they must arrive by Registered Post or Speed Post only.
Read the last line again. No courier. No ordinary post. No email. A physical, sealed, super-scribed envelope that has to reach Technology Bhawan before 5 PM on 25 September. More applications are lost to this clause every year than to any eligibility criterion.
Table of Contents
- What the Technology Development Board Actually Does
- Vacancy Details at a Glance
- What This Job Really Involves
- Eligibility — Read Before Applying
- Selection Process
- How to Apply — And How Not To
- The Prescribed Application Format, Field by Field
- Conditions You Should Not Skip
- An Honest Assessment
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. What the Technology Development Board Actually Does
Most candidates apply to a government body without understanding its business. Here, understanding it is the difference between a generic application and a targeted one.
The TDB was constituted under the Technology Development Board Act, 1995. Its mandate is to provide financial assistance to Indian industrial concerns that attempt commercial application of indigenous technology, or adapt imported technology to wider domestic use. In practice, that means the TDB lends money and takes equity — soft loans, equity participation and grants to companies commercialising home-grown technology.
Which tells you exactly why the vacancy notice asks for what it asks for. A lender needs lawyers who can draft and enforce financing documents, and — when a borrower defaults — pursue recovery. Read the "desirable experience" column again with that lens: Company Project Financing; Arbitrations and such other cases of NPA; recoveries. This is a lending institution's legal desk, not a policy or advisory role.
2. Vacancy Details at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India |
| Post | Assistant Law Officer |
| Number of Positions | 02 |
| Consolidated Emoluments | ₹70,000 to ₹90,000 per month |
| Nature of Engagement | Purely on contract basis for a period of 3 years |
| Age Limit | Up to 40 years, determined as on 01.07.2026 |
| Essential Qualification | LL.B. / Integrated LL.B. with a minimum of 05 years of field experience with focus on Corporate / Company Law |
| Desirable Experience | Experience of dealing with Company Project Financing; Arbitrations and such other cases of NPA; recoveries etc. under general legal guidelines |
| Location | Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi – 110016 |
| Mode of Application | Offline only — Registered Post or Speed Post, in the prescribed format |
| Last Date | 25 September 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Notice Reference | File No. TDB-11017/04/2023-Admin, dated 14 August 2026 |
| Official Website | www.tdb.gov.in | Tel: 011-26511184 |
3. What This Job Really Involves
The notice does not publish a detailed job description, but the qualification and desirable-experience columns describe the work with reasonable precision. Expect a portfolio built around:
- Project financing documentation — loan agreements, security documents, hypothecation and mortgage instruments, guarantees, and the covenants that govern disbursement against milestones.
- Recovery and enforcement — action on defaulting borrowers, which for a statutory lender means demand notices, enforcement of security, and coordination with recovery proceedings.
- NPA management — the legal side of accounts that have gone bad, including restructuring, settlement and the question of when to litigate versus when to compromise.
- Arbitration — most financing agreements carry arbitration clauses. Handling references, drafting statements of claim and defence, and instructing external counsel.
- Corporate and company law compliance — the general legal work of a statutory body dealing with industrial concerns, from due diligence on borrowers to insolvency-adjacent questions when a portfolio company fails.
If you have worked in the legal department of a bank, an NBFC, a financial institution or an ARC — or in a law firm's banking and finance or recovery practice — this is close to work you have already done, on the lender's side.
4. Eligibility — Read Before Applying
Three conditions, all mandatory: an LL.B. or Integrated LL.B.; a minimum of five years of field experience with a focus on Corporate / Company Law; and an age not exceeding 40 years as on 1 July 2026 (that is, born on or after 2 July 1986).
Note the phrase "field experience." The notice does not say "post-enrolment practice" or "post-qualification experience" in the abstract — it asks for five years of field experience with a focus on corporate or company law. The prescribed application form separately asks for "Total experience in years after Essential Qualification" at Item 16, and requires copies of work-experience certificates to be attached. Build your application around documentary proof, not assertion.
Who is well placed here
- Advocates with five or more years in banking, finance, recovery or DRT practice
- In-house counsel from banks, NBFCs, financial institutions, ARCs or PSU lenders
- Law firm associates from banking & finance, restructuring or insolvency teams
- Company secretaries who also hold an LL.B. and have handled financing documentation
- Lawyers with arbitration experience in commercial and financial disputes
Who will find it harder
Candidates whose five years are entirely in criminal, matrimonial, service or general civil practice. The corporate/company law focus is written into the essential qualification itself, not the desirable column — so it is a gate, not a bonus. If your practice has touched company petitions, NCLT matters, SARFAESI or DRT work, lead with those.
5. Selection Process
- Screening. Clause 2 of the notice is blunt: the prescribed essential qualifications are a minimum, and mere possession of them does not entitle a candidate to be called for interview. Where applications are large in number, TDB may restrict the interview list through a shortlisting process based on a well-defined criterion — which may include higher qualifications, more experience, or specific field expertise as per the organisation's requirement.
- Interview. Shortlisted candidates are called before a duly constituted Selection Committee. There is no written examination mentioned.
- Intimation by email only. The scheduled date and time of interview will be intimated to shortlisted candidates through e-mail only. This makes Item 8(iv) of the application form — the mandatory email ID — the single most important field on the page. Write it legibly and check that inbox.
- No TA/DA. No travel or dearness allowance is paid for attending the interview. Budget for your own travel to Delhi.
Canvassing in any form will result in disqualification of candidature. This is stated expressly at Clause 3. Do not attempt to route a recommendation through anyone.
6. How to Apply — And How Not To
The address
The Under Secretary
Technology Development Board
Department of Science & Technology
Block II, Second Floor, Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi – 110016
The envelope
The application must be sent in a sealed cover super-scribed:
"Application for the position of Assistant Law Officer"
The five rules that decide whether your application survives
- Use the prescribed format. The application form is annexed to the vacancy notice. A CV or a self-drafted letter is not a substitute.
- Registered Post or Speed Post only. The notice expressly advises candidates not to send applications by ordinary post or through courier.
- Attach self-attested testimonials. The form's opening note requires self-attested copies of mark sheets, experience certificates, research work and professional training.
- Affix a recent photograph. Coloured, passport size, not more than three months old.
- Post early. The last date is for submission, and the notice states plainly that no application will be accepted after the last date. With Speed Post transit time from outside Delhi, aim to dispatch at least a week in advance. Retain your Speed Post receipt and tracking number.
7. The Prescribed Application Format, Field by Field
Nineteen items plus a declaration. Most rejections at the scrutiny stage are for incomplete forms, so here is the full checklist.
| Item | What It Asks — and What to Watch |
|---|---|
| Photo | Affix a coloured passport-size photograph, not more than three months old |
| 1 | Post applied for — write Assistant Law Officer |
| 2 | Name in full, starting with last name, in BLOCK LETTERS, leaving one blank space between two parts of the name |
| 3 | Parent's / Spouse name |
| 4 | (a) Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY); (b) Age as on 01 July 2026 in years, months and days — calculate this precisely, do not round |
| 5–7 | Gender; Nationality; Religion |
| 8 | Address for correspondence in BLOCK LETTERS with PIN; office and residence telephone; Mobile No. (mandatory); E-mail ID (mandatory) — the interview call comes by email alone |
| 9 | Permanent address in BLOCK LETTERS with PIN and telephone number |
| 10 | Two references — persons not related to you, under whom you have worked or studied, who can testify from personal knowledge as to your fitness for the post. Name, full address and phone number for each. Ask them first. |
| 11 | Whether you belong to SC / ST / OBC / Handicapped |
| 12 | Educational qualifications in chronological order from matriculation onwards — exam passed, university/institution/board, year of passing, main subjects, subject of specialisation, division/class and percentage. Attach copies. Use a separate signed sheet if space runs out. |
| 13 | Whether the educational and other qualifications required for the post are satisfied — and if any qualification is treated as equivalent, state the authority for it |
| 14 | A clear statement of whether, on the entries made above, you meet the requirement of the post |
| 15 | Employment record in chronological order starting with your first job — employer name and address, post held, whether ad-hoc/regular/temporary/permanent, period from and to, total period in years/months/days, pay drawn, and nature of duties. Copies of work experience must be attached. |
| 16 | Total experience in years after Essential Qualification — this is the field against which your five years will be assessed |
| 17 | Details of research work / experience, if any — annexure not exceeding 200 words |
| 18 | Any other information supporting your suitability — publications, membership of learned societies, awards and recognition, in brief |
| 19 | Details of enclosures — list them; do not leave this blank |
| Declaration | Certification that the information is correct and complete and nothing has been concealed or distorted. If concealment or distortion of material information is found at any time, the appointment is liable to be summarily terminated without notice or compensation. Sign and date it. |
8. Conditions You Should Not Skip
- Contract, not permanent service. The engagement is purely on contract for three years. This is not a Group 'A' government post and carries no pension or permanency.
- TDB's power to correct its own errors. Clause 6 reserves the right, in case of any inadvertent mistake in the selection process detected at any stage — even after the issue of the appointment letter — to modify, cancel or withdraw any communication made to candidates.
- Language. The notice is issued in Hindi and English. Where any ambiguity of language arises, the English version shall be treated as final.
- Hard deadline. No application will be accepted after the last date.
9. An Honest Assessment
What's Good
- The money is competitive. ₹70,000–₹90,000 consolidated is a serious figure for a five-year-experience legal role, and comfortably beats what many mid-sized firms pay at that stage.
- Only two posts, but a narrow field. The corporate/company law focus plus the NPA and project financing overlay filters the applicant pool sharply. If you fit precisely, your odds are better than the "2 posts" figure suggests.
- Genuinely specialised work. Project financing and recovery for a statutory technology lender is a niche that builds transferable expertise — banking, infrastructure finance, and insolvency practices all value it.
- No written exam. Selection is by interview before a Selection Committee. For experienced practitioners, that is a far better format than competing on an objective paper.
- Central Delhi posting at Technology Bhawan, within the DST campus.
What to Weigh
- Three years, contractual. Plan for what follows. There is no stated provision for extension or absorption.
- Emoluments are consolidated. No HRA, no allowances layered on top, and the ₹70,000–₹90,000 band leaves the actual offer to TDB's discretion.
- No TA/DA for the interview. Out-station candidates bear their own cost, with no guarantee of selection.
- Offline application. In 2026, a physical Speed Post application is an avoidable failure point. Treat the logistics as seriously as the substance.
- Shortlisting is discretionary. Meeting the minimum does not get you an interview call. Make the desirable experience visible on the face of the form.
Who Should Apply
Advocates and in-house counsel with five to twelve years behind them in banking, finance, recovery, arbitration or corporate practice, who are under 40 as on 1 July 2026, and who want government-sector experience on a specialised financing desk without committing to a permanent government career.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for TDB Assistant Law Officer 2026?
25 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. Applications must reach the Under Secretary, TDB, by then. No application will be accepted after the last date.
Can I apply online or by email?
No. The application must be sent in the prescribed format by Registered Post or Speed Post in a sealed cover super-scribed "Application for the position of Assistant Law Officer". Candidates are expressly advised not to send applications by ordinary post or courier.
What is the salary for Assistant Law Officer at TDB?
Consolidated emoluments of ₹70,000 to ₹90,000 per month. The engagement is purely contractual for three years.
What is the age limit and how is it calculated?
Up to 40 years, determined as on 1 July 2026. Item 4(b) of the application form requires you to state your age as on that date in years, months and days.
Is a fresh LL.B. graduate eligible?
No. A minimum of five years of field experience with a focus on Corporate / Company Law is an essential qualification, and copies of work-experience certificates must be attached to the form.
How many vacancies are there?
Two.
Will there be a written examination?
The notice mentions only an interview before a duly constituted Selection Committee. Shortlisted candidates will be intimated of the date and time by e-mail only.
Does meeting the eligibility criteria guarantee an interview call?
No. Clause 2 states that the essential qualifications are a minimum and mere possession of them does not entitle a candidate to be called for interview. Where applications are numerous, TDB may shortlist on a well-defined criterion including higher qualifications or specific field experience.
Will TDB reimburse travel for the interview?
No. No TA/DA is paid for attending the interview.
Conclusion
This is a well-defined opening for a specific kind of lawyer — one who has spent five years or more on the finance side of practice and can show it on paper. The corporate and company law focus, combined with project financing, NPA and recovery in the desirable column, means the TDB is not looking for a generalist. It is looking for someone who has already sat on a lender's side of a defaulted account.
If that is you, the application itself is straightforward but unforgiving. Fill the prescribed form completely, attach every certificate, get two references who have actually supervised you, and — above all — put it in the post early enough that Speed Post cannot cost you the opportunity. A month is enough time. A week is not.
Official website: www.tdb.gov.in | Telephone: 011-26511184
Disclaimer: This post summarises the Vacancy Notice bearing File No. TDB-11017/04/2023-Admin dated 14 August 2026 issued by the Technology Development Board, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and is published for information purposes only. Lawizard is not affiliated with the Technology Development Board or the Department of Science & Technology and plays no role in the recruitment process. While care has been taken to reproduce the notice accurately, candidates must download and rely upon the official vacancy notice and prescribed application format from www.tdb.gov.in, which may be amended, corrected or withdrawn at any time. Where any ambiguity of language arises, the English version of the notice is final. Lawizard does not charge any fee for job updates, and no genuine recruitment process requires payment at any stage.
