New Delhi: Deepali R. Masirkar, a 2008-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Nagaland cadre, has been appointed Executive Director (Security) at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), one of India’s major public sector energy companies under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Masirkar will succeed Baljit Singh, a 1996-batch IPS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, and will draw pay at Level 14 of the Pay Matrix.
Her appointment also marks another milestone in a career that began with her selection to the Indian Police Service through the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her first attempt. Born and brought up in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Masirkar initially aspired to become an IAS officer but eventually joined the IPS, serving in field policing assignments before moving to central government positions.
Before her appointment to ONGC, she served as Director in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and earlier held a Director-level position in the Election Commission of India.
Who Is IPS Deepali Masirkar?
Ms Masirkar is a 2008-batch IPS officer of the Nagaland cadre who has served in state policing, election administration and central government departments.
Born on June 24, 1985, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, she grew up in a family with a background in government service. Her father was a senior officer in the Maharashtra Forest Department.
Her interest in civil services reportedly developed at an early age after she witnessed the visit of an IAS officer to her family’s residence. The experience left a lasting impression on her and inspired her ambition to join the administrative services.
Despite describing herself as an average student during her early school years, she remained focused on her ambition and later performed well in her Class 10 and Class 12 examinations.
She entered the Indian Police Service on September 1, 2008, and has since held assignments in Maharashtra and the central government.
Early Life: How an IAS Officer’s Visit Inspired Her Civil Services Dream
Deepali Masirkar’s journey towards the civil services began during her childhood in Nagpur.
According to biographical accounts, she was studying in Class 5 when an IAS officer visited her father’s residence. Her father was then serving in the Maharashtra Forest Department.
The officer’s presence and personality reportedly made a strong impression on the young Deepali. That experience motivated her to pursue a career in the civil services, particularly the Indian Administrative Service.
Read Also: Who Is A Radhika IPS? 2004-Batch Tamil Nadu Officer Moved to Waiting List Amid Gem Veeramani Probe
Although she did not consider herself an exceptionally brilliant student at the time, she continued to nurture the ambition throughout her school years.
Her early exposure to government service through her father’s professional background also helped shape her understanding of public administration.
Education: Why She Chose Biotechnology Instead of Medicine or Engineering
After completing her schooling in Nagpur, Masirkar faced an important decision about her higher education.
While medicine and engineering were among the conventional career options suggested to her, she chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology.
According to accounts of her early life, the decision was met with opposition from some family members and friends, who preferred that she pursue a more conventional professional course.
However, she remained committed to her choice and enrolled in a college in Hyderabad to study Biotechnology.
After completing her graduation, she decided to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination rather than pursue a career directly related to her academic qualification.
Her decision to move to Delhi for civil services preparation initially faced resistance from her mother. Eventually, she persuaded her father, who accompanied her to Delhi and helped arrange accommodation and coaching facilities.
The move marked the beginning of her preparation for one of India’s most competitive examinations.
Cracked UPSC Civil Services Examination in First Attempt
Deepali Masirkar cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her first attempt, securing All India Rank 384, according to the biographical information provided.
Although her original ambition was to become an IAS officer, she was allotted the Indian Police Service.
Her selection to the IPS marked the fulfilment of her broader goal of entering the civil services, even though she did not receive her first-preference service. She was allotted the Nagaland cadre.
The cadre allocation meant that she would begin her professional career outside her home state. However, she later received an opportunity to serve in Maharashtra through inter-cadre deputation.
Her UPSC success story reflects her transition from a Biotechnology graduate to a police officer through the competitive civil services examination.
IPS Career: From Nagaland Cadre to Maharashtra Police
After joining the Indian Police Service in 2008, Masirkar began her career as a Nagaland-cadre officer.
She subsequently served in Maharashtra on inter-cadre deputation, reportedly from 2014 to 2020.
During her Maharashtra assignment, she held important field policing responsibilities, including positions associated with the Nagpur Police.
Her postings included Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Crime Branch and a zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police assignment in Nagpur.
These positions involved responsibilities related to criminal investigations, policing, law enforcement and supervision of police operations within the assigned jurisdiction.
Her service in Nagpur was particularly significant because it brought her back to the city where she had grown up and completed her schooling.
Biographical accounts also highlight her emphasis on public-oriented policing, professional ethics and the importance of evaluating police officers on competence and performance rather than gender.
Central Deputation: Appointed Director in Election Commission of India in 2022
After her state-level policing assignments, Masirkar moved to the central government on deputation.
On May 3, 2022, she joined central deputation as Director in the Election Commission of India in New Delhi.
Her appointment was initially approved for a five-year tenure under the Central Staffing Scheme.
The Election Commission of India is the constitutional authority responsible for conducting elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the offices of the President and Vice-President.
Masirkar’s appointment to the Commission marked a transition from operational policing to a central institutional assignment.
She remained associated with the Election Commission until her subsequent transfer to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Shifted to Ministry of Tribal Affairs in January 2025
In January 2025, the ACC approved Masirkar’s lateral shift from the Election Commission of India to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
She was appointed Director in the ministry, continuing her central deputation.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is responsible for policies and programmes concerning the welfare and development of Scheduled Tribe communities across India.
Her posting represented another change in her administrative responsibilities, moving from election-related institutional work to a ministry dealing with tribal welfare and development policies.
She continued in the position until the government approved her appointment to ONGC in October 2026.
Appointed Executive Director (Security) at ONGC
According to the DoPT order issued on October 21, 2026, the ACC has approved Deepali Masirkar’s appointment as Executive Director (Security) at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited.
ONGC operates under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and is one of India’s major public sector enterprises in the oil and gas sector.
Masirkar will succeed Baljit Singh, a 1996-batch IPS officer of the Jharkhand cadre.
The appointment has been approved at Level 14 of the Pay Matrix.
The order specifies a combined tenure of seven years, extending up to May 3, 2029, from the date she assumes charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The May 3, 2029 deadline is linked to her overall central deputation tenure, which began on May 3, 2022.
ACC Curtails Her Ministry of Tribal Affairs Deputation
To facilitate her appointment at ONGC, the ACC has also approved the curtailment of Masirkar’s existing central deputation tenure as Director in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
She had been serving in the ministry since January 2025, following her earlier appointment to the Election Commission of India in May 2022.
The curtailment allows her to move from the ministry to ONGC for her new assignment.
Although she is changing organisations, the approved appointment takes into account her combined central deputation tenure, which is scheduled to run until May 3, 2029, unless further orders are issued.
What Will Deepali Masirkar’s Role at ONGC Involve?
As Executive Director (Security), Masirkar will take up a senior security leadership position in an organisation operating critical energy infrastructure.
ONGC’s operations include oil and gas exploration, production facilities, offshore installations and other strategically important assets.
Security management in such an organisation involves coordination with relevant authorities, protection of installations, security planning and oversight of systems intended to safeguard personnel and infrastructure.
Her experience in policing, criminal investigation and central government administration provides a professional background relevant to the new assignment.
The precise responsibilities attached to her position will be determined by ONGC’s internal organisational structure and the terms of her appointment.
Personal Life and Family Background
Deepali Masirkar comes from Nagpur, Maharashtra, where she spent her childhood and completed her schooling.
Her father served as a senior officer in the Maharashtra Forest Department and played an important role in supporting her civil services ambitions.
According to biographical accounts, she is married to Rohan Samant, an IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre.
Her professional journey has included service outside her home state, a subsequent inter-cadre deputation to Maharashtra and central government assignments in Delhi.
From UPSC Aspirant to ONGC Executive Director
Deepali Masirkar’s appointment as Executive Director (Security) at ONGC marks a new phase in her administrative career.
From a young student in Nagpur inspired by an IAS officer’s visit, she went on to pursue Biotechnology, prepare for the UPSC examination and enter the Indian Police Service in her first attempt.
Her career subsequently took her from the Nagaland cadre to policing assignments in Maharashtra, followed by central deputation to the Election Commission of India and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
With the ACC now approving her appointment to ONGC, she is set to take on responsibilities in the security administration of one of India’s most important public sector energy companies.
Her approved combined central deputation tenure extends until May 3, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Read Also: Leadership Updates: Shankar Sharan Appointed MD of ONGC Petrochemicals Marketing Limited
