ACC Approves Sunil Kumar’s Appointment as ONGC Chairman
Sunil Kumar's selection comes as a heartbreak to some who had lobbied very hard for this top post
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar, Executive Director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), as Chairman of the state-owned oil and gas major.
According to an official order dated October 21, 2026, issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the appointment was approved on the recommendation of the Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) and a proposal from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Sunil Kumar will assume charge of the post on or after December 7, 2026. His tenure will continue until his superannuation on December 31, 2028, followed by a contractual tenure, subject to a combined tenure of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The order specifies a pay scale of ₹2,00,000–₹3,70,000 under the Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) pattern for the post.
The appointment comes at a critical time for ONGC, India’s flagship upstream oil and gas producer, which plays a significant role in the country’s domestic hydrocarbon production and energy security.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been directed to take note of the appointment order, which was also forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Cabinet Secretariat.
