New Delhi: Former defence secretary Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). A 1985-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, Kumar retired from government service in 2022 after serving as defence secretary from August 23, 2019, to October 31, 2022.

His appointment was announced through an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday evening. “The President is pleased to appoint Dr Ajay Kumar as Chairman, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under Article 316(1) of the Constitution of India [which outlines the appointment process for members of public service commissions],” the DoPT order said. His tenure will begin from the day he assumes charge.

Kumar succeeds Preeti Sudan, who had taken over as UPSC chief in July 2024 following the sudden resignation of Manoj Soni. Sudan, a former health secretary, completed her term on April 29. Soni stepped down in early June 2024, almost five years before his scheduled retirement. He had served as a UPSC member from June 2017 to May 2023 before becoming the chairperson.

While Soni cited personal reasons for his resignation, opposition parties questioned the timing and demanded transparency. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was among those who linked the resignation to alleged “scandals” involving the commission.

The UPSC had come under scrutiny last year in the wake of the Puja Khedkar controversy. Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer, was accused of fraudulently securing extra examination attempts by misrepresenting her identity. The commission later cancelled her provisional selection and barred her from future exams.

The UPSC is responsible for conducting the country’s premier civil services examination, as well as handling service-related matters such as promotions, deputations, and disciplinary cases.

BI Bureau