The promotion process from Chief General Manager (CGM) to Executive Director (ED) at Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has run into a fresh roadblock, with vacancies in the company’s Board of Directors holding up the selection process. The delay has heightened anxiety among senior executives, particularly those approaching retirement who risk losing eligibility for promotion as time runs out.
The immediate focus is now on the Ministry of Steel and the possible appointment of IAS officer Sarita Chauhan as a Government-nominated member of the SAIL Board. Her appointment could help remove the administrative hurdle and revive the stalled promotion exercise, although no appointment has been officially confirmed.
Two Government-nominated Board positions vacant
The impasse follows the exit of two Government-nominated members from the SAIL Board. IAS officer Ashish Chatterjee returned to his parent cadre in Tamil Nadu, while Indian Revenue Service officer Abhijit Narendra retired on September 30, 2026.
With both positions vacant, the participation of Government-nominated members required for the ED promotion interviews has become a critical issue. The process is unlikely to move forward until at least one of the vacancies is filled, according to reports.
The situation has brought the consequences of delayed appointments into sharp focus. A vacancy at the Board level is now affecting the career progression of senior officers who have spent decades working their way up the management hierarchy.
Nearly 90 CGMs in contention
Approximately 90 CGMs are reportedly in contention for promotion to the ED grade, with SAIL headquarters planning to promote around 18 to 20 officers.
Under the reported eligibility criteria, a candidate must have completed three years as a CGM and have at least two years of service remaining before retirement. Any prolonged delay could therefore push eligible officers beyond the prescribed retirement-related threshold, depriving them of an opportunity to advance to the next level.
For officers nearing retirement, the stakes are particularly high. A promotion delayed by an administrative bottleneck could become a promotion denied, even when the officer meets the prescribed service conditions.
Sarita Chauhan appointment under watch
Sarita Chauhan, a 1999-batch IAS officer of the Union Territory cadre, is being discussed as a possible Government-nominated member of the SAIL Board. She is currently posted in the Ministry of Steel as an Under Secretary.
The Ministry’s decision on filling the vacant position is being watched closely at SAIL headquarters. An appointment could provide the institutional requirement needed to restart the interview process, subject to the applicable rules and formal approval.
However, until an official order is issued, the possibility of her appointment remains speculative. The immediate requirement is to fill the vacancy and ensure that the promotion process can proceed without further avoidable delay.
A test of administrative urgency
For SAIL, the issue extends beyond a routine personnel exercise. Executive Director-level officers play important roles in the management of plants, corporate functions and operational units. Delays in filling senior positions can also complicate succession planning and the distribution of responsibilities across the organisation.
The Ministry of Steel now faces a time-sensitive administrative challenge: fill the vacant Government-nominated Board position and provide clarity on the next steps in the promotion process.
For nearly 90 aspirants, the question is no longer simply when the interviews will take place. It is whether the process will move quickly enough to ensure that eligible officers are not disadvantaged by delays beyond their control.
The spotlight is now on the Ministry’s decision—and on whether Sarita Chauhan’s possible appointment can help break the deadlock.
