New Delhi, May 13 – Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Union Personnel Ministry announced on Tuesday.
The top post at the UPSC had been lying vacant since April 29, following the completion of Preeti Sudan’s tenure.
Kumar, a 1985-batch retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre, had served as the Defence Secretary from August 23, 2019, to October 31, 2022. His appointment to the UPSC chairmanship has been approved by President Droupadi Murmu, as per the official order.
The UPSC, which is responsible for conducting prestigious examinations to recruit officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other central services, is composed of a chairman and up to ten members.
Currently, there are two vacancies in the Commission's membership.
A UPSC chairman serves for a term of six years or until the age of 65, whichever comes first.
