The choice between a contractual APP and a UPSC APP in Delhi comes down to security, pay and career path. The Directorate of Prosecution has invited applications for 50 Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) posts on contract until 23 October 2026, 5:00 PM. The UPSC advertised 140 regular posts, but its application window likely closed on 2 October. This guide compares both for lawyers with three years at the Bar.
Main article: Delhi APP Vacancy 2026: 140 Posts, Last Date, Eligibility & How to Apply
The Two Routes at a Glance
| Feature | Contractual APP | UPSC (regular) APP |
|---|---|---|
| Posts | 50 | 140 |
| Tenure | 6 months or until further orders, whichever is earlier | Regular service |
| Selection | Personal interview; about 3 times the vacancies are called | UPSC selection |
| Eligibility | Law degree, 3 years at the Bar, age up to 35 | Same, per sources |
| Pay | Lump sum at the minimum of Level 10 plus DA, fixed for the contract | Level 10 matrix, Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500, with allowances |
| Benefits | No TA, medical, PF, gratuity, seniority or promotion; 8 days’ leave per six months | NPS or UPS, increments, MACP |
| Work | Whole-time; no private practice | Same |
DA means Dearness Allowance, a cost-of-living payment on top of basic pay. The age limit relaxes by five years for SC/ST/PH and three years for OBC.
Pay Compared: A Rough Estimate
If the contract pays only basic plus DA, a Level 10 start would be Rs 56,100 plus DA at 60%, about Rs 89,760. A regular APP’s gross, with HRA and transport allowance, is roughly Rs 1.18 lakh. The gap may be about Rs 28,000 a month. The DA rate applied to contract staff is not confirmed.
Legal Framework
- BNSS Sections 18, 19 and 20: Public Prosecutors, Assistant Public Prosecutors and the Directorate of Prosecution. The BNSS is the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the new criminal procedure code.
- Article 320, Constitution: the UPSC’s role in recruitment.
- Articles 309 and 311: service conditions and protection against dismissal without inquiry for regular civil servants. A contractual engagement is governed mainly by its terms.
- Indian Contract Act, 1872: a contract needs a lawful object and consent (Section 10).
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: an earlier contractual advertisement said contractual APPs are public servants under it. Check the 2026 terms.
Earlier contractual advertisements also said contract service gives no right to regular appointment and isn’t counted as regular service.
What the Contractual APP Does
APPs defend the State in criminal cases in CJM, JMFC and ACJM courts across Delhi. Extra duties may include teaching at the Police Training College, advising police and maintaining records of pending cases.
How to Apply for the Contractual Post
Send your application to the Director, Directorate of Prosecution, Room No. 172, 1st Floor, Tis Hazari Courts Complex, Delhi 110054, on working days by 23 October, 5:00 PM. Attach self-attested copies of your qualifications, experience and category certificates. The form also asks for your enrolment date, experience as on the last date, education from Class 10 to LLM or PhD, and up to five certified copies of judgments or order sheets from criminal cases you argued. Incomplete applications are rejected.
Which Route Suits You?
| Your situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Want a permanent career and promotion | UPSC route |
| Missed the UPSC window, want experience now | Contractual, while you prepare for the next cycle |
| Running a stable private practice | Compare carefully, since practice is barred |
| Have strong criminal-side practice proof | Contractual shortlisting favours it |
3 years at the Bar? → Yes → UPSC window open? → Yes: apply to UPSC → No: consider contractual and prepare for next cycle
FAQs
By interview, after shortlisting on qualifications and criminal-side experience.
Six months or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The minimum of Level 10 plus DA, with the DA amount fixed for the contract.
No TA, medical, PF, gratuity, seniority or promotion, but 8 days’ leave per six months.
No. The post is whole-time.
