Archive · 6 Sep 2026
ONGC Chairman Race Narrows To Seven Final Interviewees
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited is choosing a new top leader.
Seven people have reached the next interview stage.
They were selected from 18 applicants screened on August 18.
Ranjit Rath, who leads Oil India Limited, is considered one of the strongest candidates.
He also applied for the job last year.
The other candidates are senior managers from several government-owned energy companies.
The government changed some age and education rules for this selection.
Some sources question whether Rajarshi Gupta will meet the age rule by the vacancy date.
The new leader will help ONGC increase production, exploration and newer energy businesses.
Seven candidates have been shortlisted for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited’s chairperson and managing director position.
The shortlist was reduced from 18 applicants after screening on August 18, with final interviews expected this week.
Oil India Limited Chairman and Managing Director Ranjit Rath, 54, is considered a leading contender and is making a second attempt.
The other named candidates include executives from ONGC Videsh Limited, ONGC, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
The process has drawn scrutiny over relaxed age and education rules, including an upper age limit of 59 and questions about Rajarshi Gupta’s eligibility.
- Who
- Seven senior public-sector energy executives, including Ranjit Rath, Rajarshi Gupta, Vikram Saxena, Satyam Kumar, Dulal Halder, Devendra Kumar and Indian Oil Corporation Limited Director (Marketing) SP Shrivastava.
- What
- They are competing for the chairperson and managing director position at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited.
- When
- The initial screening occurred on August 18, and final interviews are expected this week. Arun Kumar Singh’s extended tenure is reported to end on December 7, 2026, or when a regular incumbent joins, whichever comes first.
- Where
- The candidates come from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Oil India Limited, ONGC Videsh Limited, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
- Why
- The process is intended to appoint ONGC’s next regular leader and comes as the company seeks to increase domestic production, expand exploration and grow its petrochemicals, overseas-assets and newer-energy businesses.
Eligibility Concerns
Selection Process Defense
Rajarshi Gupta’s age
Eligibility Concerns
Critics and sources cited in the reports say Gupta may be about 59 years and five months old on December 7, 2026, potentially making him ineligible under a literal reading of the advertisement.
Selection Process Defense
Gupta was shortlisted by the search process, indicating that the committee accepted his application for consideration; the reports do not state that his eligibility has been finally determined.
Age-limit relaxation
Eligibility Concerns
The one-off increase to a 59-year upper limit has drawn scrutiny because it departs from existing age rules and could affect who was willing or able to apply.
Selection Process Defense
The government introduced the relaxation for this appointment, and similar relaxations were previously reported for ONGC and the state-run power producer NTPC.
Potential challenge
Eligibility Concerns
Sources said applicants who did not apply because they expected to exceed the age limit could challenge the process if Gupta is ultimately appointed.
Selection Process Defense
No challenge has been reported at this stage, and the selection is proceeding to interviews before the three-member committee.
- Shortlisted candidates
- Seven
- Initial applicants
- 18
- Initial screening
- August 18
- Leading contender
- Ranjit Rath, chairman and managing director of Oil India Limited
- Selection committee
- A three-member panel comprising the Public Enterprises Selection Board chairperson, the petroleum secretary and a former Indian Oil chairman as outside expert
- Age relaxation
- The process allows candidates up to 59 years old, compared with lower standard limits described in the reports
- Reported vacancy date
- December 7, 2026, when Singh’s extended tenure is scheduled to end
