New Delhi: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has begun the selection process for the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) position at GAIL (India) Limited, the country’s leading natural gas company. The official notification was issued on Wednesday, with the application deadline set for August 5, 2025.
CMD Role to Fall Vacant in March 2026
The top post at GAIL will fall vacant on March 1, 2026, following the retirement of current CMD Sandeep Kumar Gupta in February 2026. Gupta, a seasoned finance and energy sector expert, assumed the role of CMD on September 24, 2022, after being selected by PESB on June 28, 2022.
Responsibilities
The CMD serves as the Chief Executive of GAIL and is accountable to the Board of Directors and the Government of India. The selected candidate will be responsible for the efficient functioning of the corporation, aligning its operations with corporate goals, performance benchmarks, and overall growth strategy.
Eligibility and Timeline
The PESB has invited applications from qualified and experienced candidates from the public sector and relevant industries. Interested individuals are required to submit their applications by the August 5 deadline, to be considered for one of the most prestigious roles in India’s energy sector.
Age Limit
Minimum: 45 years
Superannuation age: 60 years
Tenure
The appointment will be for five years, or until the age of superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Pay Scale
₹2,00,000 – ₹3,70,000 (IDA pattern)
Experience Requirement
Applicants must have cumulative experience/exposure of at least 5 years in the last 10 years in finance, business development, production, operations, marketing, or project management in a large, reputed organization.
Experience in the oil & gas or petroleum sector is desirable.
Employment Background
As per the PESB guidelines, applicants must be employed in a regular (non-contractual) capacity in one of the following-
- Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) – including full-time functional directors
- Central Government Group ‘A’ officers, including those from the Armed Forces and All India Services
- Public Sector Banks, Financial Institutions, or Autonomous Bodies
- State Public Sector Enterprises (SPSEs) with annual turnover of ₹10,000 crore or more
- Private sector companies with a minimum turnover of ₹10,000 crore, based on average audited turnover from the last three financial years
Preference will be given to candidates from listed companies.
Application Process
Interested candidates are required to apply through the PESB online application system by the deadline of August 5, 2025. Late applications will not be considered.
Educational Qualifications
Applicants must hold any one of the following from a recognised institution–
- Engineering degree
- Chartered Accountant (CA) or Cost Accountant
- Post-graduate or graduate with MBA or Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDIM)
[Click here to read the official notification]
Strategic Importance of the Role
As the CMD of GAIL, the selected candidate will oversee strategic operations, expansion in the energy value chain, and lead critical initiatives in the transition towards clean and sustainable fuel. GAIL plays a central role in India’s gas infrastructure development and energy security framework.
Read Also: PESB Invites Applications for Director-Level Positions at HLL Lifecare, CMPDIL, and BPCL
About GAIL
GAIL (India) Limited is an Indian state-owned energy corporation with primary interests in the trade, transmission and production distribution of natural gas. GAIL also has interests in the exploration and production solar and wind power, telecom and telemetry services (GAILTEL) and electricity generation.
