New Delhi: The race to succeed NTPC Limited Chairman Gurdeep Singh has entered its final phase, with the Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) scheduled to interview 18 candidates on Friday to identify the next Chairman of India’s largest power generation company.
The appointment assumes significance as Gurdeep Singh’s over decade-long extended tenure is set to conclude on July 31, 2026, paving the way for a new leadership from August 1, 2026, subject to the recommendations of the SCSC and approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
Selection Through SCSC Route
The selection process is being conducted through the Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) after the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) was unable to recommend a suitable candidate during interviews held in May 2025.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Power reopened the selection process and invited applications for the coveted post between February 28 and March 28, 2026.
Following the interviews, the SCSC will recommend its preferred candidate to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for final approval.
Read also: NTPC REL Signs 1,200 MW Solar Power PPA with PTC India to Strengthen India’s Renewable Energy Supply
New Chairman to Assume Charge from August 1
The successful candidate will take over as Chairman of NTPC on August 1, 2026, following the retirement of Gurdeep Singh, who has led the country’s largest power producer for more than a decade and played a key role in expanding its thermal and renewable energy portfolio.
18 Candidates in the Fray
The candidates shortlisted for the interview include senior executives from NTPC, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), GAIL, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) and Tata Power.
Candidates Appearing Before SCSC
- Shivam Srivastav – Director (Fuel), NTPC
- Supendra Panda – Executive Director, NTPC
- Devashish Panda – Executive Director, NTPC
- Vijay Chand – Executive Director, NTPC
- Ashok Sahgal – Executive Director, NTPC
- Sarit Maheshwari – Executive Director, NTPC
- L. K. Behra – Executive Director, NTPC
- Ajay Kumar Shukla – Executive Director, NTPC
- Anuj Jain – Director, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)
- Manoj Sharma – Executive Director, IOC
- Ajit Thakur – Executive Director, IOC
- Hemant Rathor – Executive Director, IOC
- Atul Kumar Tripathi – Executive Director, GAIL
- Pankaj Panda – Executive Director, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)
- Hemant Das – Executive Director, Power Finance Corporation (PFC)
- Kamlesh Kumar Jangid – Director (Finance), Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL)
- Dipesh Nanda – Managing Director, Tata Power
Final Appointment Subject to ACC Approval
Once the interviews conclude, the Search-cum-Selection Committee will recommend a suitable candidate to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The appointment will become effective after ACC approval, with the new Chairman expected to assume office immediately after Gurdeep Singh’s tenure ends on July 31, 2026.
About NTPC Limited
NTPC Limited is India’s largest power utility and a Maharatna public sector enterprise. It plays a crucial role in electricity generation and energy security, contributing nearly one-fourth of the country’s total power output. The company operates across thermal, hydro, solar, and wind energy segments, making it a key driver of India’s evolving energy landscape.
