ONGC Officer Rakesh Kumar Ratnakar Takes Charge as Director of National Fire Service College
In a significant development for India's fire safety and emergency response ecosystem, ONGC has congratulated Shri Rakesh Kumar Ratnakar on assuming charge as the Director of the National Fire Service College (NFSC), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. His appointment marks an important milestone in strengthening fire safety education, disaster preparedness, emergency response capabilities, and institutional leadership at one of India's premier fire service training institutes.
An experienced safety professional, Shri Ratnakar has been associated with ONGC since 2006, building an impressive career across multiple operational assets, including Ankleshwar, Mumbai Offshore, Cambay, MBA Basin, Kolkata, and Tripura Asset. Throughout his nearly two-decade journey, he has played a vital role in enhancing fire prevention systems, process safety, industrial risk management, emergency preparedness, and Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) practices in the upstream oil and gas sector.
His expertise spans fire protection engineering, safety audits, hazard identification, process safety management, risk analysis, disaster response planning, and regulatory compliance, contributing significantly to ONGC's strong safety culture across critical energy installations.
A topper in Fire Engineering from the National Fire Service College, Nagpur, Shri Ratnakar has consistently pursued academic and professional excellence. He also holds advanced qualifications in Fire Engineering and Disaster Management and is currently pursuing a PhD in Petroleum Engineering, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning and innovation in industrial safety.
His appointment as Director of the National Fire Service College is expected to further strengthen India's fire and emergency services ecosystem by bringing together academic excellence, practical industrial experience, and strategic leadership. His extensive experience in safeguarding critical energy infrastructure positions him well to guide future generations of fire officers while promoting modern fire safety practices across the country.
Congratulating Shri Ratnakar on his new responsibility, ONGC expressed confidence that his leadership will help advance fire safety education, strengthen emergency response capabilities, promote best practices in disaster management, and contribute towards building a safer, more resilient India.
Key Highlights
- Shri Rakesh Kumar Ratnakar assumed charge as Director of the National Fire Service College (NFSC) on 1 July 2026.
- He has served ONGC for nearly 20 years across multiple operational assets.
- Expertise includes fire prevention, process safety, HSE management, safety audits, and industrial risk assessment.
- He graduated as the topper in Fire Engineering from the National Fire Service College, Nagpur.
- He holds advanced qualifications in Fire Engineering and Disaster Management and is currently pursuing a PhD in Petroleum Engineering.
- His appointment is expected to strengthen India's fire safety education and emergency response framework.