The Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) set up by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is interviewing five short-listed candidates for the post of Chairman, ONGC on September 18, 2026. Dr. Ranjit Rath, Chairman & Managing Director, Oil India Limited (OIL); Rajarshi Gupta, Managing Director, ONGC Videsh Limited; two Executive Directors in ONGC and Saumitra Priya Srivastava, Director (Marketing), Indian Oil Corporation Limited are in the race for the post.

Meanwhile, incumbent Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman, ONGC is making a last-ditch effort to get yet another extension.

Two tactics/ strategies work very well for him: it's either a foreign travel with minister/ ministry officials just prior to the end of his tenure or he highlights and starts some project which needs some more time to finish so as he is granted a post or extension.

It was a trip to Brazil when his tenure as CMD BPCL was coming to an end in August 2022 and immediately after that he was awarded the ONGC Chairman’s job. Very unusual in the CPSE environment! Again, last year just before his three year term at ONGC was coming to end, he got an extravagant Convention Center constructed in Goa using ONGC’s funds to host India Energy Week and showcased it to get a one year extension as Chairman ONGC. It’s another matter that the Convention Center has been constructed in a place which does not have a clear access road and is not suitable for big events or conventions. Now again, it is being highlighted that ONGC would create Strategic Gas Reserves, only if he remains at the helm of ONGC. Who knows a foreign trip would come his way to get another extension?

It goes without saying that these travels, tours, workshops, seminars and conventions are meaningful for the companies and industries, but in this case it looks more meaningful for this manipulative individual.