The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the state-owned energy major.
Kumar is currently serving as an Executive Director (ED) at ONGC. According to the information provided, his elevation would mark the first time an executive has risen directly from the Executive Director rank to the CMD position in the company’s history.
The selection followed a process overseen by a three-member search committee. The ACC issued the appointment order on October 21, 2026.
Sunil Kumar is expected to assume charge on or after December 7, 2026, succeeding Arun Kumar Singh, whose extended tenure as ONGC chief is scheduled to end on December 6, 2026.
Kumar’s appointment carries a combined tenure of three years. He is scheduled to superannuate on December 31, 2028, after which he will reportedly continue under a contractual arrangement to complete the remaining tenure.
The leadership transition comes at the helm of ONGC, a major contributor to India’s domestic oil and natural gas production.
