Posted On: 15 MAY 2025 New Delhi: Dr. Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary, officially assumed charge today as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Oath of Office and Secrecy was administered by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the senior-most member of the Commission.
Dr. Kumar brings with him a distinguished record of public service and academic excellence. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, he holds a B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering. He later earned an M.S. in Applied Economics and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, USA, and was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by Amity University in 2019.
During his tenure as Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Kumar played a key role in strengthening India’s defence preparedness and promoting indigenous defence manufacturing through critical reforms under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
As Chairman of UPSC, Dr. Kumar is expected to leverage his extensive experience in governance, administration, and policy to further enhance the Commission’s role in recruiting top civil services talent for the country.
His appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for UPSC, which continues to be the cornerstone institution for merit-based recruitment to India’s civil services.
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