Who Is Ajay Kumar? Meet New UPSC Chairman, An IIT Kanpur Alumnus And 1985-Batch IAS Officer

Ajay Kumar, a well-known retired IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The development came through an official order issued by the Union Personnel Ministry, with President Droupadi Murmu approving the appointment. Kumar replaces Preeti Sudan, whose term ended on April 29.

Who Is Ajay Kumar?

A 1985-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer, Ajay Kumar has vast experience to share at the UPSC. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur, he studied further in the United States and acquired a PhD in Business Administration and an MS in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota.

Kumar retired as India's Defence Secretary on 31 October 2022 after serving the role since August 2019. He led some of the most important defence reforms of recent times during his tenure. He was instrumental in institutionalizing the office of Chief of Defence Staff, initiating the Agniveer recruitment scheme, spearheading the AtmaNirbhar Bharat defence projects, and guiding the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board.

Prior to his term in the Ministry of Defence, Kumar held important positions at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. His work played a crucial role in mega digital projects under the Digital India mission.

Kumar's administrative career spans the central and state governments. In Kerala, he was employed in positions like Principal Secretary and Managing Director of KELTRON, among others. His profound experience in governance and policy-making has placed him among the most respected bureaucrats in the nation.

Tenure as UPSC Chairman

According to the guidelines, the Chairman of UPSC holds office for a period of six years or until he or she reaches the age of 65 years, whichever is shorter.