Search Starts for New ONGC CMD; PESB Relaxes Age and Eligibility Rules to Attract Wider Talent Pool – Indian PSU

The Government of India has formally initiated the process to appoint the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), with the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) inviting applications for the coveted leadership position.

The move comes ahead of the completion of the extended tenure of incumbent CMD Arun Kumar Singh, who is scheduled to demit office on December 6, 2026. In a significant departure from conventional norms, the government has substantially relaxed the eligibility criteria for the top post in an effort to attract a broader pool of experienced leaders from both the public and private sectors.

Major Changes in Eligibility Criteria

The revised norms introduced by the government represent one of the most significant policy shifts in the selection of the head of a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU).

Among the key changes are:

• Removal of the mandatory superannuation limit of 60 years, allowing experienced executives beyond the traditional retirement age to be considered.
• Introduction of a fixed three-year tenure for the selected CMD, with the possibility of an extension of up to two years based on performance evaluation.
• Contractual extension beyond 60 years, enabling continuity in leadership where considered necessary.
• Increase in the maximum age limit for applicants to 59 years, expanding the pool of eligible candidates.
• Opening the position to senior executives from a wider spectrum of public and private sector organisations, with an emphasis on leadership in engineering, energy transition, finance and business strategy.

Strategic Move to Attract Best Leadership

Government sources indicate that the relaxation of eligibility norms is aimed at ensuring ONGC has access to the best available leadership at a time when the company is navigating a rapidly evolving global energy landscape.

The decision also reflects the changing approach towards leadership appointments in strategic energy PSUs, where experience, technical expertise and transformational leadership are being prioritised over rigid age-based eligibility norms.

Learning from the Arun Kumar Singh Model

The latest decision follows the precedent set in 2022 when Arun Kumar Singh was appointed as ONGC CMD after his retirement, becoming the first executive above the age of 60 to head a major Central PSU.

During his tenure, ONGC strengthened its operational performance, accelerated development of offshore assets, entered into important technical collaborations with global energy companies including BP, and pushed forward key deepwater production projects. The company also intensified its focus on natural gas production, energy transition initiatives and renewable energy investments.

The government appears keen to sustain this momentum by ensuring that experienced industry leaders are not excluded merely because of age-related restrictions.

Focus on Energy Transition

The next CMD will inherit the responsibility of steering India’s largest oil and gas exploration company through one of the most critical phases in its history. Along with enhancing domestic hydrocarbon production, the new leadership will be expected to accelerate ONGC’s diversification into natural gas, renewable energy, carbon management and emerging clean energy technologies while maintaining profitability.

The appointment is therefore being viewed as strategically important not only for ONGC but also for India’s broader energy security agenda.

Applications Open Till End of July

The Public Enterprises Selection Board has invited applications from eligible executives, with the deadline for submission fixed for the end of July 2026.

The selection process is expected to attract interest from senior leaders across major public sector enterprises as well as experienced professionals from the private energy sector, making it one of the most closely watched PSU appointments of the year.