Preeti Sudan Appointed UPSC Chairperson

IAS officer Preeti Sudan has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), effective August 1, 2024, following the resignation of Manoj Soni. Sudan, a 1983 batch IAS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, previously served as the Union Health Secretary and has vast experience in various government roles. Soni resigned citing personal reasons amid ongoing controversies regarding UPSC candidates allegedly using fake certificates, although his resignation was not linked to these issues. Sudan's appointment makes her the second woman to lead the UPSC, following R.M. Bathew in 1996. She will serve until April 2025. Sudan's extensive background includes positions in the ministries of Women & Child Development, Defence, and Food & Public Distribution, and she has been involved in notable national programs like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and Ayushman Bharat.