Arun Singh clearly wants ONGC extension
Multiple signs suggest that ONGC chairman Arun Singh wants to stay on beyond his official retirement date on December 6 (2025).
And speculation is rife that he's applied for a three-month extension. "There's talk the chairman wants to stay on at least for the Indian Energy Week 2026 in Goa (at ONGC's Advanced Training Institute)," says an insider.
He adds that Singh is held in high regard by his political masters, with oil minister Hardeep Puri and even Narendra Modi calling him by his first name. Another indication that Singh might get an extension is a remark he made on June 7 (2025) while visiting the Vadodara-based Western Onshore Basin office.
At the time, he was urged by former basin manager PR Mishra to refurbish a temple to the Hindu deity Jagannath, which was built on ONGC's premises. "Singh openly said: 'I will do it if I get an extension,'" reports a source.
"This was said in public and heard by more than one person in Vadodara." Speculation further mounted when Singh accompanied Puri on a European tour from the first week of July 2025, including Ireland, Iceland, and Norway.
He attended the 9th OPEC International Seminar at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna on July 9 and 10 (2025). In social media posts, Singh is frequently seen at Puri's side.
Some argue this is also true of others, including IndianOil chairman Arvindar Singh Sahney. "But the ONGC chairman's relationship with Puri is different," says a source.
He believes Singh is closer to Puri than Oil India chairman Ranjit Rath, a likely contender to replace him at ONGC. For Singh to win an extension, he would need support from the cabinet's appointments committee (ACC) and Narendra Modi in line with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidance issued on July 25 (2023).
"The ACC has directed that for the posts falling under the ambit of the ACC, prior approval of the ACC must invariably be obtained for modification in tenure of the incumbent through re-appointment, extension or premature curtailment of appointment," says the notice. "All ministries/departments are requested to ensure strict compliance."