IPS officer Deepali Masirkar appointed ONGC Executive Director (Security)
Synopsis
A 2008-batch IPS officer who has policed Mumbai's streets, managed Nagaland's security, and coordinated CAPFs during the 2024 general elections is now responsible for protecting ONGC's sprawling empire — from deep-sea Mumbai High platforms to oil fields in 14-15 countries. Deepali Masirkar's appointment is a signal that India's largest energy producer is treating infrastructure security as a strategic, not administrative, function.
Key Takeaways
Deepali Masirkar , a 2008-batch IPS officer from the Nagaland cadre , has taken charge as Executive Director (Security) at ONGC .
She previously served as Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs , and as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nagpur and Mumbai .
She contributed to the conduct of the 2024 Parliamentary Elections as a director at the Election Commission of India .
Her security brief covers ONGC's 13 onshore assets , multiple offshore platforms including the Mumbai High Complex , and stakes in projects across 14–15 countries .
She holds a Master's in Public Administration in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) .
Deepali Masirkar, a 2008-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Nagaland cadre, has assumed charge as Executive Director (Security) at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd, bringing over a decade and a half of law enforcement, security administration, and public policy experience to one of India's most critical energy institutions. Prior to this appointment, she was serving as Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
A Career Built Across Law Enforcement and Governance
Masirkar's professional journey spans some of India's most demanding security and administrative postings. While serving in Nagaland, she rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General. She subsequently served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in both Nagpur and Mumbai, where her responsibilities included law and order management, criminal investigations, economic offences, and cybercrime.
She also held a directorial role at the Election Commission of India (ECI), contributing to election planning, accessibility and inclusion, and the conduct of the 2024 Parliamentary Elections. In that capacity, she coordinated with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed during the polls — experience that directly informs her new liaison-heavy role at ONGC.
Academic Credentials
Masirkar is an alumna of St. Francis College, Hyderabad, Mumbai University, and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She holds degrees in Science and Law, alongside a Master's in Public Administration in International Political Economy, according to ONGC.
The Scale of ONGC's Security Challenge
As Executive Director (Security), Masirkar will oversee the protection of ONGC's vast and geographically dispersed network of assets. Offshore holdings include the Mumbai High Complex, Neelam and Heera Fields, Bassein and Satellite Fields, and blocks in the Krishna-Godavari and Cauvery basins. On the onshore side, ONGC operates 13 crude oil and natural gas producing assets, with installations at Mehsana, Assam, Tripura, and Rajahmundry, among others.
Beyond domestic assets, ONGC holds stakes in overseas exploration and production projects across 14–15 countries, adding an international dimension to the security brief.
Responsibilities and Strategic Mandate
Her mandate, according to ONGC, covers asset and infrastructure protection, enterprise-wide security strategy, vulnerability assessments, and crisis response protocols. She will also direct physical security frameworks, access control systems, emergency preparedness, and personnel safety guidelines across all operational zones.
A key element of the role involves acting as the primary liaison between ONGC and external law enforcement agencies, intelligence bodies, CAPFs, and both state and central government authorities — ensuring that threats or disruptions do not interrupt continuous energy exploration and production. ONGC described her as 'poised to strengthen ONGC's security architecture and reinforce the resilience of its people, assets and critical energy infrastructure.'
With India's energy security increasingly in focus amid global supply volatility, Masirkar's appointment signals a deliberate move by ONGC to place a seasoned, multi-domain security professional at the helm of its protective operations.
Point of View
Election security, and inter-agency coordination — rather than a conventional corporate security executive — reflects a sharpening awareness of the threat landscape around critical energy infrastructure. India's offshore platforms and cross-border pipeline networks are increasingly factored into geopolitical risk calculations, and the profile of Masirkar's predecessor roles suggests ONGC wants someone who can work the government-intelligence corridor, not just manage guard rosters. The LSE public administration background adds a policy fluency that could matter as ONGC's overseas footprint in geopolitically sensitive regions grows. Whether institutional culture at a legacy PSU accommodates that kind of strategic security thinking is the real question.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Deepali Masirkar and what is her new role at ONGC?
Deepali Masirkar is a 2008-batch IPS officer from the Nagaland cadre who has assumed charge as Executive Director (Security) at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd. In this role, she is responsible for safeguarding ONGC's onshore and offshore energy assets, coordinating with government and defence agencies, and formulating enterprise-wide security strategies.
What was Deepali Masirkar's previous posting before ONGC?
Before joining ONGC, Masirkar was serving as Director in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. She has also held senior roles at the Election Commission of India and as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nagpur and Mumbai.
What assets will Deepali Masirkar be responsible for protecting at ONGC?
Her security mandate covers ONGC's offshore platforms — including the Mumbai High Complex, Neelam and Heera Fields, and Krishna-Godavari basin blocks — as well as 13 onshore crude oil and natural gas producing assets at locations such as Mehsana, Assam, Tripura, and Rajahmundry. ONGC also holds stakes in overseas projects across 14–15 countries, which fall within her broader brief.
What are the key responsibilities of ONGC's Executive Director (Security)?
The ED (Security) oversees asset and infrastructure protection, formulates enterprise-wide security strategies, conducts vulnerability assessments, and manages crisis response protocols. The role also involves acting as the primary liaison between ONGC and external law enforcement, intelligence agencies, CAPFs, and state and central government authorities.
What is Deepali Masirkar's educational background?
Masirkar is an alumna of St. Francis College, Hyderabad, Mumbai University, and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She holds degrees in Science and Law, as well as a Master's in Public Administration in International Political Economy, according to ONGC.
