New Delhi | The Worldonomics Times
In a significant leadership development for India’s energy sector, Deepali Masirkar, IPS, has been appointed Executive Director (Security) at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC). The appointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and marks an important strengthening of the security leadership structure at one of India’s most strategically important public sector enterprises.
Masirkar is a 2008-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Nagaland cadre. Her appointment comes as ONGC continues to play a critical role in India’s energy security through its extensive exploration and production operations across onshore and offshore assets.
According to the government order, her appointment follows the curtailment of her existing central deputation as Director in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. She will succeed Baljit Singh, IPS, who previously held the security leadership position at ONGC.
A Strategic Appointment for ONGC
Security has become an increasingly important component of India’s energy infrastructure. ONGC operates oil and gas installations, production facilities, pipelines, offshore platforms, offices and other critical assets spread across different geographical locations.
The protection of these assets requires a coordinated security framework combining physical security, risk assessment, intelligence coordination, emergency preparedness, personnel security and modern technology.
The appointment of a senior IPS officer with experience in both state and central government assignments reflects the strategic importance attached to this responsibility.
For ONGC, security is not limited to protecting physical assets. It also involves ensuring continuity of operations, safeguarding employees and infrastructure, managing potential threats and supporting uninterrupted energy production.
Deepali Masirkar’s Professional Background
Deepali Masirkar belongs to the 2008 batch of the Indian Police Service and is an officer of the Nagaland cadre.
Before joining ONGC, she was serving as Director in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, a position she had held since January 2025. Her central deputation began earlier, in May 2022, when she joined the Election Commission of India, New Delhi, as Director.
Her movement between state service and central government assignments has provided exposure to different dimensions of public administration and governance.
She was also recently empanelled for the position of Inspector General at the Centre, reflecting her progression within the senior police leadership structure.
Her appointment at ONGC now brings this administrative and security experience into a major commercial public sector enterprise.
Tenure and Pay Level
The government order provides for a combined tenure up to 3 May 2029, from the date she assumes charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
She will draw remuneration at Level 14 of the Pay Matrix. The appointment becomes effective from the date she assumes charge of the new responsibility.
The government has accordingly curtailed her ongoing central deputation in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to facilitate the new assignment.
Why Security Matters to an Energy PSU
ONGC is a Maharatna public sector enterprise and a cornerstone of India’s domestic oil and gas production ecosystem.
Its operations involve complex infrastructure, including offshore installations, drilling platforms, production facilities, processing systems, pipelines and other critical assets.
Any significant disruption to such infrastructure can have consequences beyond the company itself. Energy production is directly connected with industrial activity, transportation, electricity generation and the broader economy.
Consequently, the security function within a large energy company increasingly requires an enterprise-wide approach.
The Executive Director (Security) must work across operational, administrative and technological functions to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen preparedness.
From Traditional Security to Integrated Risk Management
The nature of corporate security has changed substantially in recent years.
Large PSUs now operate in an environment involving physical security threats, cyber risks, industrial incidents, geopolitical uncertainty, supply-chain vulnerabilities and increasingly complex technology systems.
For a company such as ONGC, an integrated security architecture is therefore essential.
The organisation needs strong coordination between its security personnel, management, local administration, law-enforcement agencies and other government stakeholders.
Technology is also becoming increasingly important. Surveillance systems, access-control technologies, data analytics, communication networks and digital monitoring can help companies identify potential risks and respond faster to incidents.
Masirkar’s appointment comes against this changing security landscape.
Supporting Energy Security
India’s energy requirements are expanding alongside economic growth. At the same time, the country continues to focus on increasing domestic energy production and reducing excessive dependence on imports.
ONGC’s assets therefore have strategic significance.
Protecting exploration and production infrastructure helps ensure operational continuity and supports the country’s broader energy-security objectives.
The security leadership at ONGC must consequently balance strong protection with operational efficiency. Security arrangements need to protect employees and assets without unnecessarily disrupting production and business activities.
This makes the role both operational and strategic.
A New Leadership Responsibility
Masirkar’s appointment also reflects the increasing movement of experienced civil and police-service professionals into specialised leadership roles within public sector enterprises.
PSUs operate at the intersection of government policy and commercial enterprise. Their leaders must understand not only organisational requirements but also public policy, regulatory frameworks, risk management and national priorities.
An IPS officer taking charge of a senior security position at a Maharatna energy company illustrates this convergence.
The role requires coordination across multiple stakeholders and the ability to understand the unique security requirements of a large and geographically dispersed organisation.
Building Resilient Energy Infrastructure
As India invests in new energy infrastructure, resilience will become increasingly important.
ONGC’s future growth will involve exploration, production expansion, technology deployment and development of new projects. Every additional asset also creates new security and risk-management requirements.
A modern security strategy must therefore evolve alongside the company’s business strategy.
The focus is likely to increasingly include preventive security, intelligence-based risk assessment, emergency response capabilities, employee safety and technology-enabled monitoring.
The objective is not simply to respond to incidents but to create systems capable of identifying and managing risks before they become major disruptions.
Significance for India’s PSU Ecosystem
The appointment of Deepali Masirkar is significant beyond ONGC.
India’s public sector enterprises manage critical assets across energy, transportation, defence production, banking, infrastructure and telecommunications. Security and resilience are becoming increasingly important across all these sectors.
The appointment demonstrates how specialised government expertise can contribute to strengthening the governance and operational resilience of strategic PSUs.
It also highlights the growing importance of professional leadership in areas that traditionally received less attention than finance, operations or human resources.
Looking Ahead
As Deepali Masirkar assumes her new responsibility, ONGC will be looking to strengthen its security framework across its extensive operational network.
Her experience as a senior IPS officer and her exposure to central government assignments provide a foundation for the role.
The challenge ahead will be to integrate security with ONGC’s broader business objectives while ensuring that critical energy infrastructure remains resilient, secure and operational.
