SAIL CMD Amarendu Prakash Missing from PESB Website: Exit Speculation at its Peak!!!

Confusion prevails over the status of Amarendu Prakash, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), after his name was found missing against the CMD position on the official website of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB).

Interestingly, SAIL’s own website continues to list Amarendu Prakash as CMD, creating a sharp contradiction between two key government-linked platforms and fuelling widespread speculation about whether he has stepped down or been asked to exit.

As of now, there has been no formal communication from either SAIL or the Ministry of Steel clarifying the situation.

The development has triggered intense discussion within industry circles and among SAIL’s workforce of over 53,000 employees, many of whom are seeking clarity on the company’s leadership at a time when the steel sector is navigating significant operational and market challenges.

Amarendu Prakash’s tenure has seen several controversies surface in the public domain. His leadership style and internal decisions have drawn criticism from various quarters, including trade unions and employee groups. Media reports in the past have also highlighted differences between the SAIL management and sections of the Steel Ministry, though no official position has been made public on these matters.

One episode that attracted particular attention was his decision as head of SAIL, to terminate the services of Rajeev Bhatia, the whistleblower linked to alleged financial irregularities. The issue sparked debate about governance practices in public sector enterprises, especially against the backdrop of the government’s stated policy of zero tolerance towards corruption.

Despite the growing speculation, bureaucrats in the Ministry of Steel have so far remained tight-lipped.

If the CMD position has indeed fallen vacant—or is in the process of transition—industry observers believe the Ministry would need to move swiftly to ensure leadership continuity at SAIL, given its strategic importance to India’s infrastructure and manufacturing ecosystem.

At this stage, however, the absence of Amarendu Prakash’s name on the PESB website remains unexplained.

What is clear is that transparency is urgently needed. Employees, stakeholders, and the wider public deserve an official clarification to put an end to the uncertainty.

As the saying goes, individuals may come and go, but institutions endure. Still, timely communication is essential to preserve confidence in one of India’s largest public sector enterprises.