Dr. Ajay Kumar, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1985 Kerala cadre and former Defence Secretary, has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). His appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of former chairperson Preeti Sudan on April 29, 2025.

Appointment Details

The appointment was made by President Droupadi Murmu and formalized through an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under Article 316(1) of the Constitution of India.

Dr. Kumar took the oath of office on May 15, 2025, administered by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the senior-most member of the Commission.

His tenure as UPSC Chairman will last until October 2027, when he turns 65, or for six years, whichever is earlier, as per the constitutional provisions governing UPSC appointments.

Professional Background

Dr. Ajay Kumar served as India’s Defence Secretary from August 2019 to October 2022, where he was instrumental in major reforms such as the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff post and the launch of the Agniveer recruitment scheme.

He has held several key positions in both the central and Kerala state governments, including Director General of the National Informatics Centre, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics & IT, and Managing Director of KELTRON.

He is credited with implementing significant Digital India initiatives, including UPI, Aadhaar, myGov, Jeevan Pramaan, and other e-governance project.

Educational Qualifications

Dr. Kumar holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.

He completed his M.S. in Applied Economics and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

He has received several awards, including the “Silver Elephant” medallion by National Scouts and Guides, “Electronics Leader of the Year” (2012), and “Champion of Change” (2017).

Significance

The UPSC is a constitutional body responsible for recruiting to the central civil services and overseeing key examinations and appointments. The Chairperson is appointed by the President of India and holds office for six years or until the age of 65, whichever comes first.

Dr. Ajay Kumar’s extensive experience in administration, defence, and digital governance is expected to bring a strong leadership perspective to the UPSC during his tenure.