The Crossbill News Desk
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), India’s top recruitment body for the All India Services and Central Civil Services, is currently operating without a chairperson following the retirement of Preeti Sudan on April 29.
Despite the vacancy in the Commission’s highest post, the government has yet to appoint her successor, news website The Wire reported.
The chairperson of the UPSC is appointed by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, which comes under the direct charge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Jitendra Singh serving as Minister of State. As of now, no official announcement has been made about who will lead the Commission next.
Preeti Sudan, a former Union Health Secretary, was appointed chairperson in July 2024 after her predecessor, Manoj Soni, resigned citing personal reasons.
Soni’s resignation came amidst a major controversy involving IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who was reportedly allowed nine attempts to clear the civil services examination using allegedly fraudulent disability certificates to claim additional attempts.
Soni, who joined the UPSC as a member in 2017, was made chairperson in May 2023 and was expected to serve until 2029. His tenure, however, was cut short by the scandal.
Known for his close links to the BJP, RSS, and Gujarat’s Swaminarayan sect, Soni had previously served as vice chancellor of MS University in Vadodara, a post he was appointed to by the Gujarat government. He was also reportedly involved as a speechwriter for Prime Minister Modi during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister.
Sources within the Commission told the news website that three days have passed since Sudan’s retirement, but the Ministry of Personnel has yet to act on the vacancy.
In a new development coinciding with Sudan’s departure, Union Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was inducted into the UPSC as a member.
The Wire reported, citing its sources that Chaturvedi was just two months away from her own retirement.
The UPSC can have a maximum of ten members in addition to the chairperson, with each member serving either a six-year term or until the age of 65, whichever comes earlier. At present, the Commission has six members.
Despite the vacancy in the Commission’s highest post, the government has yet to appoint her successor, news website The Wire reported.
The chairperson of the UPSC is appointed by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, which comes under the direct charge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Jitendra Singh serving as Minister of State. As of now, no official announcement has been made about who will lead the Commission next.
Preeti Sudan, a former Union Health Secretary, was appointed chairperson in July 2024 after her predecessor, Manoj Soni, resigned citing personal reasons.
Soni’s resignation came amidst a major controversy involving IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who was reportedly allowed nine attempts to clear the civil services examination using allegedly fraudulent disability certificates to claim additional attempts.
Soni, who joined the UPSC as a member in 2017, was made chairperson in May 2023 and was expected to serve until 2029. His tenure, however, was cut short by the scandal.
Known for his close links to the BJP, RSS, and Gujarat’s Swaminarayan sect, Soni had previously served as vice chancellor of MS University in Vadodara, a post he was appointed to by the Gujarat government. He was also reportedly involved as a speechwriter for Prime Minister Modi during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister.
Sources within the Commission told the news website that three days have passed since Sudan’s retirement, but the Ministry of Personnel has yet to act on the vacancy.
In a new development coinciding with Sudan’s departure, Union Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was inducted into the UPSC as a member.
The Wire reported, citing its sources that Chaturvedi was just two months away from her own retirement.
The UPSC can have a maximum of ten members in addition to the chairperson, with each member serving either a six-year term or until the age of 65, whichever comes earlier. At present, the Commission has six members.
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