Former defence secretary Ajay Kumar appointed UPSC chairman

TOI City Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: May 14, 2025, 11:42 IST

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Ajay Kumar, a retired IAS officer, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). President Droupadi Murmu approved his appointment, filling the vacancy left by Preeti Sudan. Kumar served as India’s defence secretary and will lead the UPSC, responsible for conducting civil services examinations for key services like IAS and IPS.

Former defence secretary Ajay Kumar appointed UPSC chairman

NEW DELHI: Former defence secretary Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the new chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), as per an order issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel on Tuesday.

His appointment fills the vacancy created following the end of Preeti Sudan’s tenure on April 29.Kumar, a retired 1985-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, served as India’s defence secretary from August 23, 2019, to October 31, 2022, according to his official records.

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The UPSC, which is responsible for conducting the civil services examinations to recruit officers for the IAS, IFS, IPS, and other key services, is led by a chairman and may have up to 10 members. Currently, two member positions remain vacant in the commission.Kumar’s appointment was approved by President Droupadi Murmu, as stated in the official order.A UPSC chairman serves for a period of six years or until reaching the age of 65, whichever comes earlier.

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