CESTAT Recruitment 2026: Member Vacancy Circular, Eligibility, Pay and How to Apply
The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance has invited applications for 9 Member posts in the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT): 5 Member (Technical) and 4 Member (Judicial). This is a senior, fixed-pay appointment with a salary of ₹2,25,000 (fixed), and it is meant for experienced judges, advocates and senior revenue officers. Browse more central government jobs on our site.
Applications go offline to the Department of Revenue in New Delhi and must reach the office by 16 December 2026. There is no online form, so this is a paperwork job: you have to collect certificates, clearances and attested copies. Don’t worry, we have broken it into simple tables. Read the conditions slowly, because one missing annexure means your application is not entertained, and the vigilance papers can take time to arrive.
What Are the Key Highlights of CESTAT Recruitment 2026?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance (for CESTAT) |
| Posts | Member (Technical), Member (Judicial) |
| Total Vacancies | 9 (5 Technical + 4 Judicial) |
| Salary | ₹2,25,000 fixed, plus allowances |
| Tenure | 5 years or till age 67, whichever is earlier |
| Mode | Offline, application with biodata (Annexure-I) |
| Last Date | 16 December 2026 (must reach the office) |
CESTAT is an appellate authority set up under the Customs Act, 1962. Its principal bench is in New Delhi, and other benches sit at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Chandigarh and Hyderabad. A selected person may be posted at any bench, so think about relocation before you apply, even if the vacancy list shows a city you prefer. Treat the table below as the current list of seats, not a promise of where you will sit.
How Many Vacancies Are There in CESTAT Recruitment 2026?
| Post | Bench | Date of Vacancy |
|---|---|---|
| Member (Technical) | Ahmedabad | 31.01.2025 |
| Member (Technical) | Mumbai | 16.08.2025 |
| Member (Technical) | Mumbai | 27.01.2026 |
| Member (Technical) | Kolkata | 01.08.2026 |
| Member (Technical) | Hyderabad | 14.09.2026 |
| Member (Judicial) | Bangalore | 06.05.2026 |
| Member (Judicial) | Delhi | 20.08.2026 |
| Member (Judicial) | Chandigarh | 25.08.2026 |
| Member (Judicial) | Ahmedabad | 27.11.2026 (anticipated) |
The circular gives no reservation breakdown, and the Ahmedabad Judicial seat is marked as anticipated, so it is not yet vacant. This new circular supersedes the earlier vacancy circular, so anyone who applied against that earlier circular must apply afresh against this one.
What is the Eligibility for CESTAT Member Recruitment 2026?
Eligibility is governed by the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2026 and the National Tribunals Commission and Qualification, Selection, and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members of Tribunals Rules, 2026. A person is not qualified for appointment as Member unless they meet one of the routes below.
| Post | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Member (Judicial), route 1 | Is, or has been, a District Judge and Additional District Judge for a combined period of ten years |
| Member (Judicial), route 2 | Has been an advocate for ten years with substantial experience in litigation under indirect tax laws before CESTAT, a High Court or the Supreme Court |
| Member (Judicial), route 3 | Is, or has been, a member of the Indian Legal Service in Grade I or above |
| Member (Technical) | Is, or has been, a member of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes Group ‘A’), has held the post of Principal Commissioner of Customs or Central Excise (or an equivalent or higher post), and has performed judicial, quasi-judicial or adjudicating functions for three years |
Your eligibility is judged on the last date of submission, 16 December 2026. A person who holds or has held the post of Member in CESTAT can be considered for reappointment under Section 14 of the Act. The circular states no minimum or maximum age for applying; the only age mention is the end of tenure at 67 years. The qualifications are strict and written as “shall not be qualified unless”, so a near miss does not count. Match your own service years against the ten-year or three-year requirement before you spend time on the file. If you are in the law and judicial field, check the routes above against your own service record.
What is the Salary for CESTAT Member Recruitment 2026?
The circular fixes the Member’s salary and terms as follows.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Salary | ₹2,25,000 (fixed) |
| Allowances | As admissible to a Government of India Group ‘A’ officer drawing the same pay |
| Pension | If you receive a pension, your pay is reduced by the gross pension amount |
| Provident fund, gratuity | Members are not entitled to additional pension, provident fund and gratuity for Tribunal service |
| Tenure | 5 years or till age 67, whichever is earlier |
The salary is fixed, not a pay level, so it does not rise with a scale. For a pensioner the effect is real: the gross pension is deducted from the ₹2,25,000, so work out your take-home before you decide. Allowances follow the Group ‘A’ rules of the Government of India, and the circular lists no others.
What is the Selection Process for CESTAT Recruitment 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Search-Cum-Selection Committee | Comprehensive assessment of candidates, with weightage as specified in the regulation |
| Personal interaction | The assessment includes personal interaction, integrity and suitability, and the requirement of the Tribunals concerned |
The circular names only the committee assessment above, and does not describe any other stage, marks or exam pattern. Candidates called for interview or interaction get no TA/DA and must make their own arrangements. The circular names no date for the interaction, so keep an eye on the email and postal address you give in Annexure-I, and keep your documents ready for the call. See our exam calendar for other upcoming recruitment dates.
What are the Important Dates for CESTAT Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Circular issued | 2 November 2026 |
| Last date (application must reach the office) | 16 December 2026 |
| Eligibility cut-off date | 16 December 2026 |
This is a receipt deadline, not a posting date, so a posting receipt dated 16 December is not enough if the envelope arrives later. Aim to send the set at least a week early. Also remember that your eligibility is counted on 16 December 2026, so any service year you complete before that date counts. The circular says applications must reach “within 45 days of the issuance”, that is latest by 16 December 2026.
Is There an Application Fee for CESTAT Recruitment 2026?
The circular mentions no application fee and asks for no demand draft or postal order. Do not send any payment with your application unless a later official notice asks for one.
Which Conditions Can Cost You the CESTAT Member Post?
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Late or incomplete | An application received after the due date, or without the necessary annexure, will not be entertained |
| Serving officers | A serving Supreme Court or High Court Judge, or a serving member of any Central or State service or undertaking, must resign or take voluntary retirement from the parent service before joining |
| Declaration | You must not withdraw your candidature after the Selection Committee meets, must not decline the appointment if selected, and must join within 30 days of the appointment order |
| Breaking it | The declaration says the Government of India is likely to debar you for three years from appointment outside your cadre, including in autonomous, statutory and regulatory bodies |
| False information | Concealed or distorted information makes the appointment liable to summary termination without notice |
These are the lines most candidates skip. The declaration in Annexure-I is a commitment, not a formality, so read it fully before you sign. If you are not sure you can leave your present service, or join within 30 days, think carefully before applying, because withdrawing after the committee meets is not allowed.
How to Apply Offline for CESTAT Recruitment 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Download the circular and the prescribed form from the Department of Revenue or CESTAT website (link in Essential Links below) |
| 2 | Fill the biodata proforma (Annexure-I) with your photograph signed by you |
| 3 | Serving officers, including Judicial Officers, add the Annexure-II employer certificate, up-to-date CR/APAR copies for at least the last five years attested by a Group A officer, cadre clearance, and the Annexure-III vigilance and integrity clearance |
| 4 | Serving officers also add a statement of major or minor penalties in the last ten years, if any |
| 5 | Send the full set to Shri Tarandeep Singh, Under Secretary (Ad.1C), Department of Revenue, Room No. 14108, 4th Floor, ‘C’ Wing, Kartavya Bhawan-1, New Delhi-110001, so that it reaches by 16 December 2026 |
Keep a photocopy of everything you send, along with the posting proof. The circular does not say whether to post or hand-deliver, so choose a method that guarantees arrival before the deadline. The proforma also asks for write-ups on your adjudicating experience and five major achievements, plus copies of two adjudicating orders for Judges, ILS and IRS officers, and the latest ITR for advocates.
Essential Links for CESTAT Member Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Visit Department of Revenue Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
This is a rare chance to serve on a national tribunal, but only if you meet one of the routes above and can gather every annexure. Start the paperwork early, especially the vigilance clearance, and make sure the set reaches Delhi by 16 December 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more government job updates.