New Delhi, July 31: Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan will assume the role of Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) effective August 1, according to a government official. Sudan, who is currently serving as a member of the Commission, will replace Manoj Soni, who recently resigned from the position due to “personal reasons.”
Sudan’s appointment comes after Manoj Soni’s resignation, which was announced despite his tenure being set to end in 2029. Soni had been a UPSC member since 2017 and was sworn in as Chairperson on May 16, 2023. His early resignation follows a period of controversy involving the UPSC, specifically regarding allegations of candidates using fake certificates to secure employment. However, sources have clarified that Soni’s resignation is not connected to the ongoing controversy surrounding trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is accused of forging identity papers and a disability certificate to gain entry into the service.
Preeti Sudan will serve as UPSC Chairperson until April 2025, at which point she will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. The UPSC, established under Article 315-323 of Part XIV Chapter II of the Constitution of India, is a constitutional body responsible for conducting various examinations on behalf of the Union government. This includes the prestigious civil services examinations, which are used to appoint candidates to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Central Services – Group A and Group B.
The Commission, headed by a Chairperson and comprising up to 10 members, plays a crucial role in the recruitment and selection processes for numerous high-level government positions.
