Credible sources have reported that the search-cum-selection-committee, has shortlisted nine candidates for the post of CMD, NTPC. Two senior IAS officers and two corporate executives also are said be in the race for the coveted post. The committee is headed by Power Secretary P K Pujari. It is learnt that after the Government stipulated that candidates belonging to All India Services would have to resign in case of selection, most of these applicants withdrew from the selection process. This left only 26 applicants in the fray. Out of these 26, only six have finally been shortlisted. Following the retirement of previous CMD, Dr Arup Roy Choudhary, who functioned for five years from September 01, 2010 till August 31, 2015, A K Jha (Director- Tech) was appointed as interim CMD on August 3. Jha is still officiating as CMD.