Who Will Be the Next SAIL CMD? PESB Finalizes 10 Contenders

New Delhi, March 18, 2026: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has shortlisted ten candidates for the prestigious position of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). Interviews are scheduled to be held on March 28, 2026, signaling the final stages of the selection process for one of India’s top public sector roles in the steel industry.

List of Shortlisted Candidates

The ten candidates shortlisted include senior executives from SAIL, other public sector undertakings (PSUs), and government services:

1. Manish Raj Gupta – Director (Mining), SAIL; also holding additional charge as CMD, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited

2. Alok Verma – Director In-Charge, Rourkela Steel Plant; additional charge of Director (Commercial), SAIL

3. Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda – Director (Finance) with additional charge of Director (Commercial), SAIL

4. Bipin Kumar Giri – Executive Director (Mines Development), SAIL

5. Munna Prasad Singh – Executive Director (Mines), OGOM, CLMO, Rourkela Steel Plant

6. Anish Sengupta – Executive Director (Projects), SAIL

7. Krishna Gopal Agarwal – Director (Finance), RITES Limited

8. Anup Kumar Satpathy – Chief Safety Officer, South East Central Railways

9. Dr. Pudi Hariprasad – Chief Administrative Officer (Treasury & Reconciliation), Railways

10. Chetan Prakash Jain – Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, CMD, Central Electronics Limited

SAIL Insiders Likely to Lead the Race

Industry sources indicate that the leading contenders for the CMD position are primarily candidates from within SAIL. Their domain expertise, operational experience, and familiarity with the steel sector give them an edge over external candidates, who are seen to have limited chances in the final selection.

Interim CMD Decision Pending

With the incumbent CMD Amarendu Prakash set to demit office on April 1, 2026, the Ministry of Steel is yet to decide on an interim CMD to oversee operations until the new appointment is finalized.

Final Appointment Could Take Time

Even after PESB recommends a candidate, the appointment process involves multi-level scrutiny across various government departments. The final decision will rest with the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), and the process is expected to take additional time before the new CMD formally assumes office.