If sources are to be believed, altogether 25 serving, outgoing and former board-level executives of state owned companies (CPSEs) are appearing for the selection of the post of Director General of Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) on August 13. SCOPE is an apex professional organization representing the Central Government Public Enterprises.

Reportedly, the outgoing MMTC CMD Ved Prakash is ahead in the race though one cannot rule out the possibility of Atul Sobti (Ex CMD, BHEL) as well.

The post of DG, SCOPE was initially advertised on August 29, 2018 and a four-member Selection Committee was constituted comprising former PESB Chairman Atul Chaturvedi (Retd IAS:1974:UP), Padma Bhushan Moosa Raza (former Chairman SCOPE & former Secretary GoI), Ms Stuti Narain Kacker (Retd IAS:1978:UP) and Arvind Pande (former Chairman SAIL). But for certain intricate internal issues it failed to fructify and the committee was scrapped and later the post was re-advertised.

The newly constituted Selection Committee, today, is expected to interview as many 25 shortlisted candidates. It may be mentioned that the DG SCOPE post fell vacant after Dr U D Choubey completed his term on July 31, 2019. He had taken over as DG SCOPE on August 01, 2009.