IPA invites experienced professionals for empanelment with Centre of Excellence
NEW DELHI : The Indian Ports Association (IPA) has invited applications from experienced professionals across the country for empanelment as experts and individual consultants with its Centre of Excellence (CoE). The initiative aims to create a national pool of domain specialists to support Major Ports and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) on high-level technical, advisory, and strategic assignments.
According to an Expression of Interest (EoI) issued by IPA on January 1, 2026, professionals below the age of 70 years with a minimum graduate qualification in relevant disciplines and documented expertise in their respective domains are eligible to apply.
The empanelment is intended to facilitate need-based, short-term engagement of experts, rather than permanent appointments. Assignments will typically be of limited duration, with engagements capped at a maximum of six months in a financial year.
IPA has identified 15 broad domains, each comprising five sub-categories, covering a wide spectrum of port and maritime functions. These include:
Project planning, design, and construction supervision
Environment management and green ports
Finance, costing, and public-private partnerships (PPP)
Information technology and digital systems
Navigational audits and marine safety
Estate management and town planning
Legal and contractual services
Disaster management and resilience planning
Business development and marketing
Human resources, training, and capacity building
In addition, specialist categories include non-destructive testing, independent engineers, transaction advisers, and cruise development, encompassing market assessment, terminal design, operational planning, and business model development.
Applicants may opt for multiple domains and sub-categories through a single online application submitted via the CoE portal. The last date for submission of applications is February 16, 2026.
Empanelment will be at the discretion of IPA and its Executive Committee, based on an assessment of the applicant’s experience, qualifications, and expertise. IPA has clarified that inclusion in the panel does not confer any right to assignment or assured remuneration.
For assignments that do materialise, the concerned Major Port, IPA, or MoPSW will engage the empanelled expert on mutually agreed terms. Remuneration will be paid as consolidated daily or monthly fees, as per predefined slabs. For external private experts, daily fees range from ₹8,000 for professionals with 7–10 years of experience to ₹15,000 for those with over 25 years of experience. Monthly remuneration for full-time engagements is capped between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹3.25 lakh, depending on experience.
The initiative is expected to strengthen institutional capacity across India’s port sector by enabling timely access to specialised expertise aligned with national maritime development priorities.