GAIL Director (Projects) Recruitment 2026: PESB Board-Level Vacancy, Eligibility, Salary & Apply Online

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has announced recruitment for the post of Director (Projects) at GAIL (India) Limited, a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, through Advt. No. 34/2026 dated 03.03.2026. This Schedule “A” board-level position offers a pay scale of ₹1,80,000–3,40,000 (IDA) and involves overall responsibility for project planning, execution, operations, maintenance, and key support functions across GAIL’s nationwide infrastructure.

Eligible candidates must be engineering graduates aged at least 45 years with significant senior-level experience (minimum five years in project management or operations within the last decade), preferably in the hydrocarbon or energy sector, and must currently hold board-level or equivalent leadership roles in CPSEs, government services, SPSEs, large private companies, JVs, or similar organisations meeting prescribed turnover and pay-scale criteria.

The appointment is for five years or until superannuation (60 years), with applications to be submitted online via the PESB website and forwarded through the proper channel with vigilance clearance where applicable. The last date for online application is 24 March 2026 (3:00 PM), with forwarding deadlines up to 2 April 2026, and shortlisting will be conducted by PESB based on eligibility and comparative assessment.

GAIL Director (Projects) Recruitment 2026

Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has released a high‑profile vacancy for the post of Director (Projects) in GAIL (India) Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. This is a Schedule “A” board‑level position with a pay scale of Rs. 1,80,000 – 3,40,000 (IDA), offering a rare opportunity for senior professionals in project management and operations in large organisations.

The official notification carries Advt. No. 34/2026 (No. 7/1/2026‑PESB) and is dated 03.03.2026. The post of Director (Projects) is a full‑time functional directorship and forms part of the Board of GAIL (India) Limited.

About GAIL (India) Limited

GAIL (India) Limited was incorporated in August 1984 as a Central Public Sector Undertaking under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. The company’s mission is to accelerate and optimise the effective and economic use of natural gas and its fractions for the benefit of the national economy.

GAIL became a Navratna PSU in 1997 and is now one of the fourteen Maharatna Public Sector Undertakings, the highest status conferred on any PSU in India. It is a Schedule “A” Maharatna CPSE headquartered in New Delhi with primary business activities in natural gas transmission and marketing, LPG extraction and transmission, petrochemicals manufacturing/marketing, and exploration & production (E&P).

As on 31.03.2025, the company employed 5,010 regular employees (4,199 executives and 811 non‑executives), with authorised capital of Rs. 10,000 crore and paid‑up capital of Rs. 6,575.10 crore. The Government of India holds 51.52% equity in GAIL as on 31.03.2025.

Role and Responsibilities of Director (Projects)

Director (Projects) is a full‑time functional Director and a member of GAIL’s Board, reporting directly to the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD). The incumbent has overall responsibility for project planning and execution, as well as operations and maintenance of installations spread across the country.

The role also covers key support functions including contracting and procurement, telecommunications and telemetry, and Business Information System (BIS). In essence, this position drives the execution of GAIL’s large‑scale infrastructure and project portfolio while ensuring robust operational performance of existing assets.

Age Requirements

The age eligibility is determined on the Date of Occurrence of Vacancy (DOV). The age of superannuation for this post is 60 years, and minimum age for applicants is 45 years.

For internal candidates, there must be at least 2 years of residual service as on the date of vacancy with respect to the date of superannuation. For external candidates (others), at least 3 years of residual service is required as on the date of vacancy with respect to the superannuation date.

Eligible Employment Categories

On the date of application and on the date of interview, the candidate must be employed in a regular capacity (not contractual or ad‑hoc) in one of the following categories.

• Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), including full‑time functional Directors on the Board of a CPSE.
• Central Government Group ‘A’ Officers, including the Armed Forces of the Union, All India Services, and officers from Public Sector Banks, Financial Institutions, and Autonomous Bodies.
• State Public Sector Enterprise (SPSE) with annual turnover of Rs. 10,000 crore or more (average audited annual turnover of three financial years preceding the calendar year of advertisement).
• Private Sector Company / Joint Venture (50:50 JVs of Central/State Governments and JVs of CPSEs with other organisations) / National and State‑level Cooperative Federations with annual turnover of Rs. 10,000 crore or more.

For private companies, preference is given to candidates from listed companies, and applicants from private companies, JVs and federations are arranged in order of annual turnover.

Educational Qualification

The applicant must be an Engineering Graduate with a good academic record from a recognised university or institute. No non‑engineering qualification is accepted as an alternative; the engineering degree is a core requirement for eligibility.

Experience Needed

Applicants should have at least 5 years of cumulative experience or exposure in project management and/or operations and maintenance during the last 10 years in a large organisation of repute. Experience in the hydrocarbon sector will be given preference, considering GAIL’s strong presence in natural gas, LPG, and petrochemicals.

This requirement applies across eligible sectors, whether the candidate is from a CPSE, Central or State Government, SPSE, private sector, JV, federation, or Armed Forces (with equivalent project/operations exposure).

Required Level / Pay Scale

For CPSE Candidates

Applicants from Central Public Sector Enterprises must meet both the pay‑scale and minimum service length criteria. Acceptable eligible pay scales (IDA/CDA, pre‑ and post‑revisions) include:

• Rs. 7,250–8,250 (IDA) pre‑01.01.1992
• Rs. 9,500–11,500 (IDA) post‑01.01.1992
• Rs. 20,500–26,500 (IDA) post‑01.01.1997
• Rs. 51,300–73,000 (IDA) post‑01.01.2007
• Rs. 1,20,000–2,80,000 (IDA) post‑01.01.2017
• Rs. 18,400–22,400 (CDA) pre‑revised post‑01.01.1996
• Rs. 37,400–67,000 + GP 10,000 (CDA) post‑01.01.2006
• Rs. 1,44,200–2,18,200, Level 14 (CDA) post‑01.01.2016

Minimum length of service in the eligible scale is one year for internal candidates and two years for others, as on the date of vacancy.

For Central Government / AIS / Autonomous Bodies

Group ‘A’ officers (including All India Services) and officers in Autonomous Bodies must hold either a post at Joint Secretary level in Government of India or an equivalent post carrying equivalent pay scale on a substantive basis. Officers drawing the eligible pay scale only due to Non‑Functional Upgradation (NFU) or Next Below Rule (NBR) without holding the substantive post are not eligible.

Applicants from Public Sector Banks or Financial Institutions must be holding either a Board‑level post or at least a post immediately below Board level for at least one year on the date of application. Applicants from the Armed Forces must hold the rank of Major General in the Army or equivalent in the Navy/Air Force.

For SPSE / Private / JV / Federations

Applicants from State PSUs, private companies, JVs and federations must be working either at Board level or at least one level below Board level on the date of application. This ensures only senior leaders with significant decision‑making authority are considered for this board‑level role in GAIL.

Immediate Absorption Condition

For Central Government officers (including Armed Forces, All India Services, Public Sector Banks, Financial Institutions and Autonomous Bodies), appointment will be on immediate absorption basis only. This means such candidates must be ready to be permanently absorbed into the CPSE cadre if selected.

Tenure and Appointment Period

The appointment as Director (Projects) will be for a period of five years from the date of joining, or up to the date of superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. This fixed tenure aligns with standard board‑level appointments in CPSEs under PESB guidelines.

Application Process: Online and Through Proper Channel

Applicants are required to submit their applications online only, in the prescribed format, against the job description on the PESB website (https://pesb.gov.in/). After online submission, forwarding through proper channel is mandatory as per category.

You can apply in either of two ways:

• Fill the application form online on PESB website and forward it online through proper channel, or
• Fill the application form online, take a print‑out and send it offline as per forwarding procedure.

Forwarding authorities differ based on applicant category:

• Group ‘A’ Central Government officers (including Armed Forces and All India Services): through Cadre Controlling Authority/Administrative Ministry.
• Officers from Public Sector Banks/Financial Institutions/Autonomous Bodies: through their Administrative Ministry/Department of Government of India.
• CMDs/MDs/Functional Directors in CPSEs: through the concerned Administrative Ministry.
• Below Board level in CPSEs: through the concerned CPSE.
• CMDs/MDs/Functional Directors in SPSEs: through concerned State Administrative Secretary and Cadre Controlling Authority, if any.
• Below Board level in SPSEs: through the concerned SPSE.
• Applicants from Private Companies: directly to PESB.
• Applicants from JVs/Federations: apply online and forward printed application through Competent Authority/Head of Organisation.

Extra Documents for Private / JV / Federation Applicants

Applicants from private companies, JVs and federations must additionally submit the following documents along with the application:

• Annual Reports of the organisation for the three financial years preceding the calendar year in which the post is advertised (either URL or copies).
• Documentary proof that the company is listed, if applicable (URL or copies).
• Evidence of working at Board level or at least one level below Board level.
• Self‑attested copies of documents supporting age and educational qualifications.
• Details of relevant jobs handled in the past.

These documents support evaluation of organisational scale, candidate seniority, and professional track record.

Vigilance Clearance and Forwarding Conditions

Cadre‑controlling or competent authorities must forward only those applications which are clear from vigilance angle, as per Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines. For CPSE and Central Government categories, vigilance profile must be furnished in the 13‑point proforma prescribed by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) vide circular dated 06.09.2024.

For SPSEs, JVs and federations, the Head of Organisation/Competent Authority/State Administrative Secretary/Cadre Controlling Authority must ensure only vigilance‑clear applications are forwarded, ideally with the CVC‑prescribed vigilance profile. Applications not satisfying vigilance norms may be rejected.

Undertaking and Debarment Conditions

Every applicant must give an undertaking as part of the application that they will join the post if selected; applications without this undertaking will be rejected. PESB has clearly defined debarment rules for candidates who later refuse to join.

For Central Government / Armed Forces / AIS / Banks / FIs / Autonomous Bodies

• If the candidate conveys unwillingness to join after the interview, they will be debarred for 2 years from the date of interview for any Board‑level post in any CPSE.
• If the candidate conveys unwillingness after issue of offer of appointment, they will be debarred for 2 years from the date of offer of appointment for Board‑level posts in any CPSE.

For CPSE Candidates

• If unwillingness is conveyed after the interview, debarment for 2 years applies for Board‑level posts in any CPSE other than the one to which the candidate belongs.
• If unwillingness is conveyed after issue of offer, similar 2‑year debarment applies for Board‑level posts in any CPSE other than the candidate’s current CPSE.

For SPSE / Private / JV / Federation Candidates

• If unwillingness is conveyed after interview, debarment for 2 years from date of interview applies for Board‑level posts in any CPSE.
• If unwillingness is conveyed after issue of offer, debarment for 2 years from date of offer applies similarly.

No request for relaxation in these debarment provisions will be entertained.

Key Dates and Deadlines

The total timeline for receipt of applications complete in all respects in PESB is 30 days from the date of uploading of the job description on the PESB website. Candidates must strictly adhere to the following cut‑offs:

• Last date for online submission of application by the applicant: 24.03.2026 up to 03:00 PM.
• Last date for nodal officers / Head of Organisation / Competent Authority / Administrative Secretary / Cadre Controlling Authority (for all applicants except those from private companies) to forward applications to PESB: 02.04.2026 up to 05:00 PM.

No applications will be entertained after the stipulated dates, and incomplete applications or those received late will be rejected.

Selection and Shortlisting

The Public Enterprises Selection Board reserves the right to shortlist applicants for interview in line with prevailing guidelines. Meeting the minimum eligibility does not guarantee an interview; the Board may apply additional criteria or comparative assessments.

All correspondence with PESB regarding this vacancy must be addressed only to the Secretary, Public Enterprises Selection Board. The postal address is: Secretary, Public Enterprises Selection Board, Public Enterprises Bhawan, Block No. 14, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi‑110003.

Practical Tips for Serious Applicants

For senior professionals planning to apply for the GAIL Director (Projects) recruitment, consider the following practical points:

• Align your career narrative with the core requirements: recent (last 10 years) project management and operations & maintenance experience in a large organisation, ideally with exposure to hydrocarbons, infrastructure or energy.
• Highlight board‑level or one‑below‑board responsibilities clearly in your CV to show decision‑making authority, P&L responsibilities, and project execution scale.
• Coordinate early with your cadre‑controlling or administrative authority for vigilance clearance and timely forwarding of your application, as delays at this stage can lead to disqualification despite timely online submission.
• Ensure all documentary proofs (annual reports, listing status, pay‑scale details, appointment orders, experience certificates) are ready and consistent with the details filled in the application form.

These steps do not alter official conditions but help you present a stronger, compliant application.

Conclusion

GAIL Director (Projects) Recruitment 2026 is a premier opportunity for senior engineering graduates with strong experience in project management and operations in large organisations, particularly in the hydrocarbon or energy sector. The role is a Maharatna CPSE board‑level position under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, with a pay scale of Rs. 1,80,000 – 3,40,000 (IDA) and a tenure of up to five years or superannuation.

Eligible candidates from CPSEs, Central and State Governments, Armed Forces, SPSEs, private sector, JVs and federations must apply online via PESB, ensure proper channel forwarding and vigilance clearance, and respect all deadlines and debarment rules for unwillingness after interview or offer.

FAQs about GAIL Recruitment 2026

What is the post announced under GAIL Recruitment 2026?
The recruitment is for the post of Director (Projects), a Schedule “A” board-level functional director position in GAIL (India) Limited.

Who is conducting the recruitment process?
The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) is responsible for conducting the recruitment and selection process.

What is the salary of the Director (Projects) in GAIL?
The pay scale for the post is ₹1,80,000 to ₹3,40,000 (IDA), along with applicable board-level benefits and allowances.

What are the main responsibilities of the Director (Projects)?
The role includes overall responsibility for project planning, execution, operations and maintenance of installations, contracting, procurement, telecom systems, and business information systems across GAIL.

What educational qualification is required to apply?
Applicants must be engineering graduates with a good academic record from a recognised university or institute.

What experience is required for this position?
Candidates must have at least five years of cumulative experience in project management and/or operations and maintenance during the last ten years in a large organisation.

Is experience in the hydrocarbon or energy sector mandatory?
It is not mandatory but candidates with hydrocarbon, natural gas, petrochemical, or infrastructure sector experience will be given preference.

What is the minimum age required to apply?
The minimum age for applicants is 45 years, with superannuation set at 60 years.

Who can apply for this recruitment?
Eligible applicants include senior professionals from CPSEs, Central Government services, All India Services, Armed Forces, State PSUs, Public Sector Banks, Financial Institutions, large private companies, joint ventures, and cooperative federations meeting eligibility criteria.

What level of position must applicants currently hold?
Applicants should be working at board level or at least one level below board level in their organisation.

What is the tenure of appointment?
The appointment will be for five years from the date of joining or until superannuation or further orders, whichever occurs earlier.

How can candidates apply for the post?
Candidates must apply online through the PESB website and ensure forwarding of the application through the proper channel where applicable.

Is forwarding through the proper channel mandatory?
Yes, except for private sector candidates, applications must be forwarded by the competent or administrative authority along with vigilance clearance.

What is the last date to submit the online application?
The last date for online submission is 24 March 2026 up to 3:00 PM.

What happens if a selected candidate refuses to join?
Candidates who decline after interview or offer of appointment may face a two-year debarment from consideration for board-level posts in CPSEs.

Does meeting eligibility guarantee an interview?
No, PESB may shortlist candidates based on comparative assessment and additional criteria beyond minimum eligibility requirements.