Retired IAS officer Ajay Kumar takes over as UPSC chairman

Former IAS officer and ex-defense secretary Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), as per an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on May 13.

"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]," reads the order.

Kumar, a 1985 batch officer from the Kerala cadre, will begin his tenure as UPSC chairperson on the day he assumes office.

He takes over from Preeti Sudan, whose term ended on April 29. Sudan, who previously served as Union health secretary, was appointed UPSC chief in July 2024 following the sudden resignation of her predecessor, Manoj Soni.

Soni, who had served on the commission from June 2017 to May 2023 before becoming chairperson, resigned nearly five years before the end of his tenure, citing personal reasons, according to people familiar with the matter.

His unexpected resignation drew criticism from opposition parties, who questioned the timing and transparency of the move.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and others speculated whether the resignation was linked to alleged "scandals" involving the UPSC.

The commission faced controversy last year in the case of Puja Khedkar, who was accused of misrepresenting her identity to claim additional attempts in the civil services exam.

In July, the UPSC revoked her provisional appointment as a probationary IAS officer and barred her from all future examinations or selections.

Notably, Soni stepped down in early June, before the Khedkar controversy became public.

The UPSC is responsible for conducting the central civil services examination and handling matters related to appointments, promotions, deputations, and disciplinary cases across various government services.