A 1985-batch retired IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, Ajay Kumar worked as defence secretary from August 23, 2019, to October 31, 2022.
Retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and former defence secretary Ajay Kumar has been named the new Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson.
The Department of Personnel of Training (DoPT) late on Tuesday issued an order announcing Kumar's appointment. "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 said the tenure of Kumar, a 1985 batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, will commence the day he takes the UPSC's chairman's office.
The tenure of Kumar's predecessor, Preeti Sudan, ended on April 29. Sudan was named as the UPSC chief after Manoj Soni's abrupt resignation. Sudan, a former health secretary, was appointed in July 2024
People aware of the matter said Soni cited personal reasons behind his decision to quit five years before the completion of his tenure.
Soni was a member of the commission from June 2017 to May 2023 before taking over as the UPSC chairperson.
Opposition parties questioned Soni's resignation and asked why the government did not make the development public immediately. Leaders such as Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge questioned if Soni's resignation was connected to alleged "scandals" related to the UPSC.
The UPSC was in the news last year amid the controversy over Puja Khedkar, who was accused of fraudulently availing additional civil services examination attempts by faking her identity. The UPSC in July last year cancelled Khedkar's provisional candidature as a probationary IAS officer and debarred her from all future examinations or selections.
Soni resigned in early June before the controversy surrounding Khedkar emerged.
Soni was a member of the commission from June 2017 to May 2023 before taking over as the UPSC chairperson.
Opposition parties questioned Soni's resignation and asked why the government did not make the development public immediately. Leaders such as Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge questioned if Soni's resignation was connected to alleged "scandals" related to the UPSC.
The UPSC was in the news last year amid the controversy over Puja Khedkar, who was accused of fraudulently availing additional civil services examination attempts by faking her identity. The UPSC in July last year cancelled Khedkar's provisional candidature as a probationary IAS officer and debarred her from all future examinations or selections.
Soni resigned in early June before the controversy surrounding Khedkar emerged.
