Dr. Ajay Kumar, former Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, officially took charge today as 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 an extensive administrative background, having served in key roles both at the state and central levels over his 35-year career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur with a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering and holds an M.S. in Applied Economics and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, USA.
Throughout his career, he has spearheaded major e-Governance initiatives, including the Jeevan Pramaan digital life certificate for pensioners, the myGov citizen engagement platform, and the Pragati system for Prime Minister-led video conferences. His leadership in defence production and technology has also earned him numerous accolades, including the Silver Elephant medallion by the National Scouts and Guides and the Electronics Leader of the Year award in 2012.
His appointment as UPSC Chairman signals a forward-thinking approach to public service recruitment and administration, with expectations high for reforms in governance and digital transformation.
