Former Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar Appointed as New UPSC Chairman

On Tuesday, the Government of India appointed Dr. Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary, as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), succeeding Preeti Sudan who retired on April 29. The appointment was confirmed through an order by the Department of Personnel and Training, which stated that President Droupadi Murmu approved the appointment under Article 316(1) of the Indian Constitution. Dr. Kumar’s tenure will commence from the day he assumes office and continue until October 2027, when he turns 65—the age limit for UPSC members, who can serve a maximum of six years.

Dr. Ajay Kumar, a 1985-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre, retired as the Defence Secretary in 2022. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in shaping India's defence landscape. Most notably, he oversaw the establishment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post in 2020—a major reform in India's military structure aimed at enhancing coordination among the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He also supervised the launch of the ‘Agniveer’ scheme in 2022, a transformative recruitment initiative for short-term service in the armed forces.

Dr. Kumar's academic credentials are also noteworthy. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and holds a PhD in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, USA. His extensive background in electronics, information technology, and public administration has earned him respect across various sectors of governance.

Before joining the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Kumar held key positions in the field of electronics and information technology. His professional roles included serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Director General of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Principal Secretary in the Government of Kerala, and Managing Director of KELTRON, a state-owned electronics enterprise.

Dr. Kumar is widely credited with implementing several critical projects under the Government of India's flagship Digital India mission, launched in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to his profile on the IIT Kanpur website, he contributed to the rollout of some of India's most impactful digital platforms. These include the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), now the world’s largest digital payment system; Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric-based digital ID system; myGov, a citizen engagement platform; Jeevan Pramaan, a digital life certificate service for pensioners; and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

With Dr. Kumar’s vast administrative experience and technical expertise, his appointment as UPSC Chairman is expected to bring a blend of innovation and governance insight to the country’s premier recruiting body. The appointment comes at a time when the UPSC continues to play a pivotal role in selecting civil servants capable of addressing contemporary administrative and development challenges.