ONGC Chairman: Sunil Kumar appointed, takes charge from 7 December
Why in the news
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Sunil Kumar as the next Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). He is the first ONGC executive to rise straight from Executive Director rank to the top post.
Key facts
- Order date: 21 October 2026.
- Takes charge: on or after 7 December 2026.
- Predecessor: Arun Kumar Singh, who has led ONGC since December 2022; his extended tenure ends on 6 December 2026.
- Tenure: a combined three years, covering service until his superannuation on 31 December 2028 plus a contractual period.
- Selection: panel of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) chaired by Mallika Srinivasan; at least 19 candidates applied and five were shortlisted after the first interview round.
About Sunil Kumar
- Age 58; petroleum engineering graduate from the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, with a postgraduate qualification in business management.
- Joined ONGC in 1991 as an Assistant Executive Engineer in Assam.
- Executive Director and Asset Manager of the Mehsana Asset (Gujarat) since 8 January 2025.
- Worked on the Vasistha and S1 deep-water project off India’s east coast.
About ONGC
ONGC is a Maharatna central public sector enterprise and India’s largest oil and gas exploration and production company.
Exam angle
- Top PSU heads are appointed by the ACC on PESB recommendation.
- Remember: Sunil Kumar succeeds Arun Kumar Singh; PESB chairperson is Mallika Srinivasan.