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New Delhi: The Indian government has formally announced the appointment of former Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar as head of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). President Droupadi Murmu has given his approval for his nomination.

Preeti Sudan, a former Union Health Secretary and 1983 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official whose term as the UPSC chairwoman expired on April 29 of this year, was replaced by Kumar, a retired IAS officer from the Kerala cadre from the 1985 batch. The date of her appointment was August 1, 2025.

According to the Union Personnel Ministry’s notification, “The President is pleased to appoint Dr. Ajay Kumar as Chairman, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under Article 316(1) of the Constitution of India.”

The day Dr. Ajay Kumar takes office as Chairman of the UPSC will mark the beginning of his term in that position. The UPSC (Members) Regulations, 1969, as modified from time to time, shall control the terms of his service, while Article 316(2) of the Indian Constitution would govern the duration of his appointment,” the statement said.

Sujata Chaturvedi, a former secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ Department of Sports, took over as the UPSC member more than a week ago.

Former Department of Sports and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports secretary Sujata Chaturvedi took the UPSC oath of office and confidentiality. According to UPSC, the seniormost member of the Commission, Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), delivered the oath.