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yesterday

Ajay Kumar Officially Assumes Role as UPSC Chairman Following Presidential Appointment

The former Defence Secretary and IAS officer brings decades of experience in governance and reform to lead India’s premier civil service recruitment body.

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Former defence secretary Ajay Kumar.
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Overview

  • Ajay Kumar, a 1985-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
  • His appointment, cleared by President Droupadi Murmu, follows the completion of Preeti Sudan’s tenure on April 29, 2025.
  • Kumar previously served as Defence Secretary from August 2019 to October 2022, overseeing transformative reforms like the Agniveer scheme and the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff.
  • He also played a pivotal role in implementing Digital India initiatives, including Aadhaar, UPI, and Government e-Marketplace, during his tenure in the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
  • Under constitutional provisions, Kumar will serve as UPSC Chairman for six years or until he reaches the age of 65, with the commission currently operating with two member vacancies.