In a significant development, Dr. Ajay Kumar, a retired 1985-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and former Defence Secretary of India, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) . This appointment marks a notable transition from his extensive career in defence and technology sectors to leading India’s premier civil services recruitment body.
A Distinguished Career in Defence and Technology
Dr. Kumar’s tenure as Defence Secretary from August 2019 to October 2022 was marked by transformative initiatives. He played a pivotal role in the implementation of the Agnipath Scheme, a major reform in military recruitment aimed at inducting soldiers for a four-year term, thereby modernizing the armed forces’ human resource structure .
Beyond military reforms, Dr. Kumar was instrumental in advancing India’s digital infrastructure. As Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, he contributed to the Digital India initiative, overseeing projects like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Aadhaar, and MyGov.in .
Academic Excellence and Thought Leadership
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Dr. Kumar holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. His academic background has underpinned his analytical approach to policy-making and governance. Post-retirement, he has continued to influence public discourse as a non-resident Senior Fellow at Carnegie India and as a columnist for Business Standard .
Vision for UPSC
As the newly appointed UPSC Chairman, Dr. Kumar is expected to bring his vast experience in public administration and technology to the commission. His leadership is anticipated to enhance the transparency and efficiency of the civil services examination process, aligning it with contemporary governance challenges.
Dr. Ajay Kumar’s appointment as UPSC Chairman signifies a strategic move to integrate technological acumen and administrative expertise at the helm of India’s civil services recruitment. His diverse background positions him to steer the UPSC towards reforms that reflect the evolving needs of the nation’s governance.
