New Delhi: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) conducted the selection interview for the post of Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) on October 1, 2026.
The Board considered the candidature of Panuganti Srinivas Rao, General Manager (Design), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, who was the only candidate interviewed for the position.
After assessing the candidate, PESB did not recommend any candidate for the post.
The incumbent Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), Vasudev Ranganath Puranik, is scheduled to superannuate on December 31, 2026.
PESB Does Not Recommend Candidate for MDL Post
According to the PESB proceedings, only one candidate appeared for the selection interview:
- Candidate: Panuganti Srinivas Rao
- Current Position: General Manager (Design)
- Organisation: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
- Post Applied For: Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel)
After considering his candidature, the Board did not find him suitable for recommendation to the post.
As a result, PESB did not recommend any name for the Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel) position.
Read also: Leadership Updates: MDL Extends Biju George’s Tenure as Director (Operations) Till February 2029
Ministry of Defence to Decide Further Course of Action
Following the PESB decision, the Administrative Ministry/Department — Ministry of Defence — has been advised to decide the appropriate course of further action for filling the position.
The Board has indicated that the Ministry may consider:
- Constituting a Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC).
- Undertaking re-advertisement of the position.
- Adopting any other appropriate selection method.
- Obtaining approval from the competent authority for the chosen course of action.
No further candidate recommendation has been made by PESB at this stage.
MDL Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel) Vacancy
The current Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), Vasudev Ranganath Puranik, is due to retire on December 31, 2026.
With PESB not recommending a candidate from the current selection process, the Ministry of Defence will now determine the next steps to fill the upcoming vacancy.
The eventual selection process will depend on the course of action approved by the competent authority.
What PESB’s Decision Means for the Selection Process
The PESB recommendation is an important stage in the appointment process for senior leadership positions in Central Public Sector Enterprises.
In this case, the Board did not recommend the only candidate interviewed and has therefore left the further course of action to the Ministry of Defence.
The possible next steps include:
- A fresh advertisement for the position.
- Formation of a Search-cum-Selection Committee.
- Another selection mechanism approved by the competent authority.
The process will continue based on the decision taken by the administrative ministry.
Why the MDL Appointment Process Matters
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is a Schedule ‘A’ Navratna defence public sector undertaking with a key role in India’s naval shipbuilding sector.
The Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel) is part of the company’s senior leadership structure. The appointment process is therefore relevant to the company’s leadership continuity as the incumbent approaches superannuation.
The PESB decision represents a procedural outcome in which no suitable candidate was recommended from the candidate considered during the October 1 selection interview. The Ministry of Defence will now determine the appropriate mechanism for taking the selection process forward.
About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is a Schedule ‘A’ Navratna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Headquartered in Mumbai, MDL is a major shipbuilding company involved in the construction of warships and submarines for the Indian Navy and other vessels for domestic and international customers.
Read also: MDL Signs MoU With NSHIP-AP to Develop ₹15,000 Crore Greenfield Shipyard in Andhra Pradesh
