New Delhi: In a significant development in the public sector space, Vishal Garg has been selected for the post of Director (Finance) at India Optel Limited (IOL) following a meeting of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) held on June 13, 2025.
Mr Garg is currently serving as Additional General Manager (Group Head, UFSC VPG, NR-VSR) at NTPC Limited, one of India’s largest power utilities.
Next Steps: Vigilance Clearance and ACC Nod Awaited
After his selection by the PESB panel, Vishal Garg’s name has been forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for further consideration. His formal appointment to the role is contingent upon receiving necessary vigilance clearances and ACC approval.
India Optel Limited (IOL) is a Schedule “B” Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) operating under the Ministry of Defence, specifically the Department of Defence Production. The position of Director (Finance) is a critical leadership role responsible for steering the company’s financial strategy and ensuring regulatory compliance within the defence production ecosystem.
10 Candidates Interviewed by PESB in a Competitive Selection
The selection was part of the PESB’s 47th meeting, which saw participation from a diverse group of candidates from prominent public sector and scientific institutions. In total, 10 candidates were interviewed for the position, representing organizations like Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), MTNL, ONGC Petroadditions Ltd (OPaL), THDC, MRPL, NBCC, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, and the Indian Ordnance Factories Service.
List of Interviewed Candidates:
- Pankaj Kumar Goyal – Chief General Manager, Indian Ordnance Factories Service
- Vijaykumar Somnath Birhade – AGM (Finance), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd
- Arijit Ghosh – Additional General Manager, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd
- Anirudh Prasad Singh – GM (Finance), MTNL
- Vishal Garg – Additional General Manager, NTPC Ltd
- Sanjay Bharati – Director, ONGC Petroadditions Ltd (OPaL)
- Anand Prakash Bajpai – Additional General Manager, THDC India Ltd
- Anand Kumar – Deputy General Manager, Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd
- Mukut Bihari Singhal – Executive Director (Finance), NBCC (India) Ltd
- Nimesh Kaushik – Chief Finance & Administrative Officer, Institute Of Nano Science And Technology
A Veteran in Financial Leadership
Vishal Garg brings with him rich experience in financial planning and management, having held senior leadership roles in NTPC. His expertise is expected to bring valuable insights and contribute to the financial robustness of India Optel Limited, especially in the context of India’s growing emphasis on indigenized defence production.
About IOL
India Optel Limited (IOL) is a fully owned Government of India enterprise, established in 2021 under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. It is focused on achieving self-reliance in optoelectronics for the Indian Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, and other customers. IOL is a Schedule-B Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) with its registered office in Dehradun.
