Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar Takes Charge as UPSC Chairman

In a key administrative development, Ajay Kumar, a retired 1985-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). His appointment, approved by President Droupadi Murmu, comes after the completion of Preeti Sudan’s tenure on April 29, 2025. He officially assumed office on May 14, 2025.

Why is this Appointment Significant?

Ajay Kumar’s elevation to the post of UPSC Chairman is noteworthy due to his distinguished bureaucratic career and multisectoral experience in defence, governance, and technology. The UPSC, as India’s premier recruiting body for civil services, plays a critical role in shaping the nation’s administrative machinery. His leadership is expected to strengthen merit-based and transparent selection processes and potentially guide reforms in recruitment and examination systems.

Profile at a Glance

Name: Dr. Ajay Kumar

Cadre & Batch: 1985 IAS, Kerala cadre

Previous Role: Defence Secretary of India (2019–2022)

Education:

• Ph.D. in Business Administration
• M.S. in Applied Economics, University of Minnesota
• B.Tech from IIT Kanpur
• Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineers

Key Achievements

As Defence Secretary:

1. Spearheaded Defence Reforms including the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
2. Instrumental in launching the Agniveer Scheme under the Agnipath recruitment model
3. Led the Corporatisation of Ordnance Factories
4. Promoted AtmaNirbhar Bharat in the defence sector

In Digital Governance (Ministry of Electronics & IT – MeitY):

1. Played a pivotal role in launching UPI, Aadhaar, MyGov, and Government e-Marketplace
2. Architect of the National Electronics Policy 2012, which significantly boosted mobile and electronics manufacturing in India

At the State Level:

1. Served as Principal Secretary in Kerala
2. Revived the public sector unit KELTRON as its Managing Director

About UPSC – Static Facts

Constitutional Status: Articles 315 to 323 of the Indian Constitution

Role: Conducts exams for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services

Composition: 1 Chairman + up to 10 Members

Tenure: 6 years or until 65 years of age, whichever is earlier

Headquarters: Dholpur House, New Delhi

Expected Impact

Dr. Ajay Kumar brings a strategic, reform-oriented mindset with proven success in both policy execution and innovation. His appointment is likely to:

• Influence future recruitment policy and exam reforms
• Foster greater use of technology in UPSC processes
• Promote inclusivity and efficiency in civil services examinations

With a visionary leader at the helm, UPSC may undergo progressive modernization in alignment with India’s evolving administrative needs.