Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has released a new recruitment notification for the appointment of Geologists and Engineers at E1 Level through a Computer Based Test (CBT). The recruitment drive has been announced under Advertisement No. 2/2026 (R&P) and offers a total of 52 vacancies across Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, and Geology disciplines.
This recruitment drive presents an important career opportunity for eligible engineering graduates and geology postgraduates who want to work with one of India’s leading energy companies. According to the official notification, selected candidates will be appointed at the E1 level, carrying a basic pay scale of ₹60,000 to ₹1,80,000, along with various allowances and benefits. The notification also mentions an approximate CTC of ₹26 lakh.
The online application process begins on July 17, 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications until July 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM. The Computer Based Test is tentatively scheduled to be conducted on September 6, 2026. Candidates interested in applying should carefully check the educational qualification, age limit, vacancy distribution, selection procedure, application fee, medical standards, and other eligibility conditions before submitting the online application.
ONGC Recruitment 2026 Overview
The ONGC Recruitment 2026 notification seeks qualified candidates for five academic and engineering streams. A total of 52 vacancies have been advertised.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) |
| Advertisement No. | 2/2026 (R&P) |
| Recruitment | Geologists and Engineers |
| Level | E1 |
| Total Vacancies | 52 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Registration Start Date | July 17, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | July 31, 2026, 11:59 PM |
| CBT Date | September 6, 2026 (Tentative) |
| Basic Pay Scale | ₹60,000 – ₹1,80,000 |
| Approximate CTC | ₹26 lakh |
| Selection Process | CBT, Interview and Medical Fitness |
ONGC Vacancy Details 2026
The 52 vacancies have been distributed among five different streams. Mechanical Engineering has the highest number of vacancies with 27 positions, followed by Chemical Engineering with 10 vacancies.
The stream-wise vacancies are as follows:
| Academic/Engineering Stream | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineering | 9 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 27 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10 |
| Instrumentation Engineering | 2 |
| Geology | 4 |
| Total | 52 |
The vacancies are further distributed across UR, OBC (NCL), SC, ST and EWS categories in accordance with the details provided in the official advertisement. Candidates should refer to the official notification for complete category-wise reservation details, including provisions relating to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
ONGC Recruitment 2026 Educational Qualification
Educational qualifications differ depending on the academic or engineering stream selected by the applicant.
For Petroleum Engineering, candidates should possess a Graduate Degree in Petroleum Engineering with a minimum of 60% marks or a Graduate Degree in Applied Petroleum Engineering with at least 60% marks. The notification specifies separate consideration regarding the number of vacancies available to candidates holding Applied Petroleum Engineering qualifications.
Candidates applying for Mechanical Engineering should possess a Graduate Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minimum of 60% marks.
For Chemical Engineering, applicants must hold a Graduate Degree in Chemical Engineering with at least 60% marks. The notification specifically states that a BE/B.Tech qualification in Chemical Sciences and Technology will not be accepted for the Chemical Engineering stream.
Candidates interested in Instrumentation Engineering should possess a Graduate Degree in Instrumentation Engineering with a minimum of 60% marks.
For the Geology stream, eligible qualifications include a Post Graduate Degree in Geology with a minimum of 60% marks or specified M.Sc./M.Tech qualifications in areas such as Petroleum Geoscience, Petroleum Geology or Geological Technology with the required minimum marks.
Candidates must have acquired the required qualification on or before the last date for submitting the application. ONGC has also clarified that equivalent qualifications will not automatically be accepted where a specific qualification has been prescribed. Applicants are therefore advised to carefully verify their exact degree and specialization before applying.
ONGC Recruitment 2026 Age Limit
The maximum age limit varies according to the candidate’s category and whether they are applying for an engineering stream or the Geology stream.
For the Engineering streams listed at Serial Numbers 1 to 4, the maximum age for Unreserved/EWS candidates is 26 years, while for the Geology stream, it is 27 years.
For OBC (NCL) candidates, the maximum age is 29 years for Engineering streams and 30 years for Geology.
For SC/ST candidates, the maximum age is 31 years for Engineering streams and 32 years for Geology.
Higher age limits and relaxations are available for eligible PwBD, Ex-Servicemen and departmental candidates as specified in the detailed recruitment notification.
Candidates claiming reservation or age relaxation must possess the required valid certificates in the prescribed format. Applicants should carefully read the official advertisement regarding OBC (NCL), EWS, SC/ST, PwBD and other category-related documentation requirements.
ONGC Recruitment 2026 Salary and Benefits
Candidates selected under this recruitment drive will be appointed at the E1 level with a basic pay scale of:
₹60,000 – ₹1,80,000
In addition to basic pay, the notification mentions an annual increment of 3% and allowances at 35% of basic pay under the Cafeteria Approach.
Eligible employees may also receive benefits such as Dearness Allowance, HRA or company accommodation, Contributory Provident Fund, conveyance maintenance, leave encashment, Performance Related Pay, medical facilities for self and dependents, gratuity, post-retirement benefits and other applicable benefits as per ONGC rules.
The recruitment advertisement describes the overall compensation package as approximately ₹26 lakh CTC, making this a significant opportunity for eligible engineering and geology candidates.
ONGC Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
The ONGC selection procedure consists of three major stages:
- Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Personal Interview
- Medical Fitness
Candidates must successfully qualify at the applicable stages to be considered for appointment.
The final selection is based on the candidate’s performance in the CBT and Personal Interview. The CBT carries a weightage of 85 marks, while the Personal Interview carries 15 marks, making a total of 100 marks.
ONGC will shortlist candidates based on their CBT scores for the further selection process. According to the notification, candidates may be shortlisted in a 1:5 ratio for the Personal Interview, subject to the criteria determined by the management.
Candidates must qualify separately in both the CBT and interview. General, EWS and OBC candidates are required to obtain at least 45% marks in the CBT, while SC/ST/PwBD candidates need a minimum of 40%.
For the interview, General, EWS and OBC candidates need at least 60%, equivalent to 9 marks out of 15, while SC/ST/PwBD candidates need at least 40%, or 6 marks out of 15.
ONGC CBT Exam Pattern 2026
The Computer Based Test will consist of 85 questions and will have a total duration of two hours.
The examination pattern is:
| Part | Subject | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | Concerned Domain | 40 |
| Part II | General Awareness | 10 |
| Part III | Aptitude Test | 25 |
| Part IV | English Language | 10 |
| Total | 85 |
The concerned domain will be based on the discipline selected by the candidate, such as Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, Instrumentation or Geology.
One of the important points for candidates is that the notification states that there will be no negative marking in the CBT.
If the examination is conducted in multiple sessions, ONGC may use normalization to account for differences in the difficulty levels of different sessions.
ONGC CBT Exam Centres
The CBT is expected to be conducted across multiple cities, including Delhi/NCR, Kolkata, Mumbai region, Chennai, Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mohali, Nagpur, Bhopal, Bengaluru, Ernakulam, Raipur, Surat, Lucknow, Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar.
Candidates will have to provide their preferred examination centre while submitting the application. Applicants should choose their preferences carefully because changes in test-centre preference will not be permitted later.
ONGC, however, reserves the right to modify, add or reduce test cities or centres as required.
ONGC Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
The registration charge for General, OBC and EWS candidates is ₹1,000.
The notification states that convenience fees, bank commission and applicable GST may be charged separately. The registration fee is non-refundable and must be deposited through the prescribed online mode.
Candidates should carefully check the official notification for category-wise fee provisions before making any payment.
How to Apply for ONGC Recruitment 2026
Eligible and interested candidates are required to submit their applications online through the official ONGC website. The online registration window will remain open from July 17 to July 31, 2026.
Candidates can apply for only one Academic/Engineering Stream based on their qualifications and preference. If multiple applications are submitted by the same candidate, the latest application will be treated as final and the older applications will be rejected.
Before starting the application process, applicants should keep their active mobile number and email ID ready for OTP verification. They should also prepare scanned copies of their recent passport-size photograph, signature, Class 10 certificate for date-of-birth verification, essential qualification degree certificate, consolidated marksheets or transcripts, photo identity proof and PAN card in the prescribed formats and file sizes.
Applicants should enter all information carefully because the notification states that changes will not be allowed after final submission of the application.
Candidates are also advised to keep their registered email address and mobile number active for at least one year from the registration date, as recruitment-related communication may be sent through these channels.
Important Dates for ONGC Recruitment 2026
Candidates should note the following recruitment schedule:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Starts | July 17, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | July 31, 2026, up to 11:59 PM |
| Tentative CBT Date | September 6, 2026 |
Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the last date to submit their forms, as technical problems, payment issues or heavy traffic on the application portal could cause delays.
Merit List and Medical Examination
Candidates qualifying in the interview will be considered for the medical examination stage.
The merit list will be prepared based on the combined marks obtained in the CBT and Personal Interview. In the event of a tie, preference will first be given to the candidate with higher CBT marks. If the CBT marks are also equal, the older candidate will be placed higher in the merit list for medical examination.
An offer of appointment will be issued only to candidates who meet the required ONGC medical fitness standards.
The notification also specifies certain medical requirements. For example, complete or partial colour blindness is stated as not acceptable for the advertised academic/engineering streams, while night blindness is also listed as not acceptable. Candidates are advised to read the complete medical rules and standards in the official notification before applying.
Important Instructions for Candidates
Applicants should ensure that they meet all educational, age and other eligibility conditions before submitting the application. Admission to various stages of the recruitment process will remain provisional until the candidate’s eligibility and original documents are verified.
Candidates already working in a Public Sector Undertaking or Government service may be required to produce a No Objection Certificate as specified in the notification.
Selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India, including ONGC assets, basins, institutes, plants or headquarters, and may also be posted abroad depending on organizational requirements.
Candidates should rely on the official ONGC recruitment notification and official recruitment portal for authentic information. They should avoid responding to suspicious recruitment advertisements or individuals seeking unauthorized payments. The advertisement specifically notes that ONGC does not seek payments from candidates other than the prescribed registration fee.
The ONGC Recruitment 2026 drive for Geologists and Engineers offers a major opportunity for eligible graduates and postgraduates seeking a career in India’s energy sector. With 52 vacancies, an E1 pay scale of ₹60,000 to ₹1,80,000, and an approximate compensation package of ₹26 lakh CTC, the recruitment is likely to attract candidates from across the country.
Interested applicants should carefully verify their eligibility for Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering or Geology before applying. The online registration process begins on July 17, 2026, and closes on July 31, 2026, while the CBT is tentatively scheduled for September 6, 2026.
Candidates are advised to read the complete official notification before submitting their application, particularly the detailed provisions regarding qualifications, reservation, age relaxation, PwBD eligibility, medical standards, application fee and selection criteria.