Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC) has made Alka Mittal as its first woman chairman and managing director. She is a postgraduate in Economics, MBA (HRM) and Doctorate in Commerce and Business Studies, she joined ONGC as a graduate trainee in 1985.

Mittal went on to become the first woman to hold the charge of a full-time director in ONGC’s history. The company highlights that Ms Mittal, who is director of human resources in the company, has been given the additional charge as the head of the organisation.

Subhash Kumar, former director (finance) was given additional charge as chairman after Mr Shanker's retirement, however he too retired on December 31, 2021, after which Ms Mittal has been given the additional responsibility of the Maharatna company.

With this appointment, Mittal has become the first woman ever to head ONGC as its CMD and will hold the post for six months or until a regular appointment for the position is announced.

ONGC has not had a full-time chairman and managing director since former chief Shashi Shanker retired on March 31, 2021. Typically, the government select a future CMD at least a few months before the retirement of the incumbent but instead, after Shanker’s retirement, the then senior-most director was given the additional charge. Subhash Kumar, former director (finance) was given the additional charge of the post from April 1, 2021. Kumar too retired end-December, leaving the top position vacant for a couple of days.