MoHFW Invites Retired Officers for SPARROW Portal Management — Check Salary Formula

MoHFW Consultant Recruitment 2026: Official Vacancy Status

From February 2026, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is engaging retired Central Government servants as Consultants on a contract basis for its APAR Section of CHS. The official recruitment drive was formalized through Circular No. Z.28015/01/2026-Estt.II dated 09.02.2026, and subsequently circulated by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) via OM No. 21/7/2023-CS.I (Coord.) on 13th February, 2026. As of Thursday, February 19, 2026, the application window remains actively open for eligible retired officials who can join immediately on call.

Who is eligible for the SPARROW Portal Management role?

The first vacancy is dedicated to the management of the SPARROW Portal and handling queries from Nodal officers of participating CHS units. This position requires a retired Central Government Servant who held the level of Section Officer (SO) or Under Secretary (US) or equivalent. The applicant must possess working knowledge of IT and coordinate directly with the NIC Support Team.

What is required for the Physical APAR dossiers role?

The second vacancy focuses entirely on the record management of physical APAR dossiers. Eligible candidates for this role are retired Central Government Servants who served at the level of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) or Section Officer (SO) or equivalent.

Remuneration Calculation: Last Pay Drawn Minus Pension

The financial terms for these contractual appointments follow standard Department of Expenditure guidelines. The consultant shall be paid a consolidated remuneration calculated exactly as the last pay drawn minus basic pension, subject to TDS deductions. The remuneration for services rendered in any given month becomes payable in the subsequent month.

How much will a retired Section Officer or Under Secretary earn?

To illustrate the financial implication, consider two common scenarios based on the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. If an official retires at Level 8 (Section Officer), their calculation yields a specific fixed monthly amount. The same logic applies to a Level 11 retiree (Under Secretary).

Are any additional allowances granted during the contract?

No other allowances are permissible. The consolidated fee is final. The only exception is Traveling Allowance and Dearness Allowance (TA/DA) when the consultant is deputed on an official tour. In such cases, the TA/DA entitlement remains exactly the same as what the official was entitled to at the time of their retirement from active service.

Strict Exclusions and Eligibility Limitations

Not all retired officials qualify for these positions. The establishment section enforces strict age and benefit limitations that automatically disqualify certain applications during the initial screening phase.

Who is strictly excluded from applying for these roles?

The most critical exclusion involves healthcare benefits. No medical facility shall be provided to the consultant by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The consolidated remuneration is legally deemed to include an element to cover the cost of medical cover, if any. Furthermore, during the term of service, the consultant shall not engage in any private business or professional activity which could conflict with the interest of the Government.

Terms of Engagement and Application Checklist

The contractual appointment is strictly for a maximum period of one year, though it remains extendable based on the specific requirements of the Ministry. The service can be terminated by either side by providing a one-month advance notice.

What are the leave rules and working hours?

The normal working hours are set from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday, featuring a standard 30-minute lunch break from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The consultant earns leave at the exact rate of 1.5 days for every completed month of service, which must be availed with prior permission. In special circumstances, the controlling officer possesses the authority to call the consultant for services on holidays or beyond normal working hours.

How to submit the application form correctly?

Interested persons must submit their detailed particulars using the enclosed format. The application requires personal details, last pay drawn, basic pension, and a comprehensive work experience log. Many applicants forget to attach the copy of their PPO along with the form, which leads to immediate rejection at the initial screening stage by the Establishment section. The complete package must be addressed to the Under Secretary (Admn.), Work Hall No. 11049, Kartavya Bhawan-1, New Delhi, and submitted within one month of the circular’s issuance.