In tandem with the procedural changes, crucial updates have been made to the required educational qualifications specified in the official job description. The criteria have now been expanded to include individuals holding a ‘Post Graduate’ degree, alongside the existing provisions for first-class graduates in Engineering, Chartered Accountancy, or Cost Accountancy, as well as graduates with a full-time MBA or PGDIM from leading institutions. To accommodate these new changes and allow eligible candidates to apply under the updated terms, the deadline for submitting applications has been extended until July 22, 2026.

In a significant departure from conventional public sector enterprise (PSE) guidelines, the govt  has implemented three critical structural shifts:

Age Limit Extension: The maximum age limit for external applicants has been raised to 59 years at the time of application, widening the talent pool to include highly experienced industry veterans.

Abolition of Superannuation Cap: The strict retirement age of 60 for the position has been relaxed. The selected candidate will no longer be forced to step down automatically upon turning 60 during their term.

Fixed Tenure Structure: To guarantee management continuity, the government is introducing a fixed three-year tenure. This term is extendable by an additional two years subject to a performance review, potentially allowing a five-year leadership run regardless of the candidate’s age.

Knowledgeable source said  , top PSE posts often saw short leadership stints because executives were appointed close to their retirement age of 60. By guaranteeing a three-to-five-year window and pushing the age ceiling to 59, the government aims to give the next ONGC chief enough runway to execute long-term exploration and production strategies.

The search comes at a crucial time as ONGC looks to reverse aging production fields and accelerate its deepwater exploration initiatives. The Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) is expected to consider both internal public sector candidates and high-ranking private sector executives.

During his tenure, Sinha has played a pivotal role in strengthening GAIL’s financial systems, investor relations, corporate governance, compliance, treasury management, and investment appraisal processes. He also led major digital transformation initiatives, including SAP implementation, process automation, and the centralisation of financial operations. His contributions have earned him several professional accolades, including securing second rank in Asia for IR Professional in the Extel Asia Survey 2026, along with honours from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India for excellence in finance leadership and cost management.

The initiative aims to provide seamless last-mile connectivity between Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth Metro stations and key government offices in the Central Vista region, encouraging greater use of public transport among government officials and the general public while reducing dependence on private vehicles.

Under this initiative, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is providing two state-of-the-art hydrogen-fuelled buses to DMRC having a seating capacity of 35 passengers, equipped with GPS-based tracking and CCTV systems for real-time monitoring, safety, punctuality, and route adherence.

The shuttle service will operate on all working days (Monday to Friday, excluding Gazetted Holidays) during peak office hours as per following timings- Morning: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and Afternoon: 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM

With a frequency of one bus every 30 minutes, one bus will operate in the clockwise direction and the other in the anti-clockwise direction, covering important government offices and landmarks including Kartavya Bhawan, Vigyan Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Akbar Road, Baroda House, National Stadium, National Gallery of Modern Arts, India Gate, and Seva Teerth Metro Station.

Fare collection will be facilitated through National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), UPI, and cash payment options, with affordable stage-wise ticket pricing of ₹10 and ₹15.

DMRC will oversee bus operations, conductors, ticketing, and passenger support, while IOCL will provide drivers and hydrogen fuel support.

This pioneering initiative underscores the Government of India’s commitment to green mobility, clean energy adoption, and sustainable public transport infrastructure. The project is expected to serve as a benchmark for future hydrogen-based transportation systems across the country.