Switching my job role from field jobs to PM roles

Hello everyone. I am from India.

My Professional Background:

Academics: B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (Gold Medalist from a State Government College)

Early Career: 6 months at Tata Steel under the Assistant Engineer Trainee (AET) program.

Core Experience: 4 years and 9 months at NLC India Limited (Navratna PSU) as a Site Supervisor in the Ground Water Control (GWC) and Drills division, managing field operations and projects, personnel, administration, and critical material procurement. Here the major projects were construction and maintenance of bore wells and pontoons.

I recently resigned from my position to relocate to my hometown due to personal responsibilities as an only child. Professionally, this has also served as a conscious decision to step out of my PSU comfort zone, upskill myself, and pivot into global Project Controls and Coordination roles. I am currently dedicated to full-time PMP preparation (53% through Andrew Ramdayal's course) and will actively learn the required PMIS tools like - MS Project etc.

Key Questions I Would Love Your Insights On:

1. Q1: Process & Transition: "In the PSU world, the path is rigid: crack GATE, apply, and get selected. For PMP and the private sector, what is the most efficient end-to-end process to get noticed by global engineering firms?"
2. Q2: Timing of Applications: "I am 53% through my PMP course. Should I start applying for remote/hybrid project roles right now by showing 'PMP in progress' on my resume, or should I wait until I officially pass the exam?"
3. Q3: Core Software Stack: "Since my NLC experience was heavily field-based, which specific software tools should I master right now to prove I can handle remote project coordination or controls? Is MS Project and Jira enough, or does Worley look for Primavera P6?"
4. Q4: Target Companies & Job Hunting Channels: "Which specific companies or Global Delivery Centres (GDCs) in India actively hire for remote or hybrid project coordination? Beyond LinkedIn, what is the best way to get my resume past the initial filters?"
5. Q5: Salary Expectation & CTC Negotiation: "My last CTC at NLC was around ₹17 Lakhs per annum. Coming from a PSU background into private project controls, what is a realistic salary expectation for a mid-level coordinator role, and how should I negotiate my worth?"
6. Q6: Actionable Roadmap: "If you were in my shoes today, what concrete milestones would you set for the next 60 to 90 days to land a high-paying remote job?"