Petroleum Ministry in hunt for younger bureaucrat for DGH

Four months after giving charge of oil and gas field regulator DGH to a senior bureaucrat, the Petroleum Ministry has begun a search for the full-time upstream regulator, seeking a technocrat of no more than 56 years old.
The Ministry issued an advertisement seeking applications for the post of Director General, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) within 30 days from officers of central or state government, recognised research institutions, PSUs, semi-government and autonomous statutory organisations.
The appointment, the advertisement said, would be on "deputation" basis for a maximum period of five years or completion of 60 years, whichever is earlier.

The applicant must hold a Master's degree in geology or geophysics or petroleum geology with 16 years of experience in upstream oil and gas sector or a Bachelor's degree in the same subjects.
"The maximum age limit for appointment by deputation shall be not exceeding 56 years as on the last date of receipt of applications," the advertisement said.
In June, Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Additional Secretary in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was given additional charge of DGH upon superannuation of Director General, B N Talukdar.

Talukdar superannuated on June 30 after completing an extended tenure.
Talukdar, who took over as the head of the DGH on February 6, 2014, was to superannuate on December 31, 2014 after turning 60. He, however, was given a six-month extension till June 30.

DGH, which traditionally was headed by a technocrat, for the first time in its history saw a bureaucrat being appointed as Director General when in June 2012 Rajiv Nayan Choubey, a 1981 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, was handpicked for the job.