NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, July 30, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the appointment of Preeti Sudan as its new chairperson, starting August 1. Sudan, a retired IAS officer from the 1983 batch of the Karnataka cadre, will hold the position until April 2025. She previously served as the Union Food Secretary and is now the second woman to lead the UPSC, following R.M. Bathew, who was chairperson in 1996.

Sudan's appointment comes after Manoj Soni, the previous UPSC chairman, resigned on July 20 for personal reasons. Soni’s resignation occurred before his term was set to end in May 2029. It is important to note that his resignation was not linked to the ongoing controversy involving UPSC candidates accused of using fake certificates for employment.

Recently, the case of Puja Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer alleged to have falsified identity documents to enter the service, has sparked widespread discussion on social media. There have been numerous claims about the misuse of fake certificates by current IAS and IPS officers. Social media users have circulated various names and details, alleging fraudulent activities related to certificates for benefits intended for Other Backward Class (non-creamy layer) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) categories.

Before joining the UPSC, Manoj Soni was a distinguished scholar in political science with a specialization in international relations. He taught at Sardar Patel University (SPU) in Vallabh Vidyanagar from 1991 to 2016 and served as Vice-Chancellor at two universities. Soni has received several awards and has an extensive publication record.

Currently, the UPSC board, which is led by a chairman and can have up to ten members, has seven members, leaving three positions unfilled.

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