"Personal Reasons": UPSC Chairman Resigns Five Years Before Term Ends (Photo @AG_knocks)

UPSC chairman Manoj Soni has tendered his resignation from the position, five years before his tenure ends. It is reported that the top public exam body chairman cited “personal reasons” for his decision to end his tenure much earlier than the actual tenure.

Notably, the UPSC chief’s resignation comes at a time when a criminal case has been registered against probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar and her family members for allegedly forging an identification certificate to get extra attempts for the examination. However, sources said that the resignation was not in any way connected to the issues related to the Puja Khedkar, Hindustan Times reported. Moreover, Soni had submitted his resignation to the President of India approximately a month ago. But, it remains unclear whether the resignation will be accepted.

Read Also: Puja Khedkar Faked Her Identity To Get Into The Civil Services: UPSC

Soni had taken the charges as the chairman of the constitutional body that conducts direct recruitment of officers to the All India Services and the Central Civil Services through examinations on May 16, 2023. He was supposed to remain in office until May 15, 2029, which makes his resignation five years ahead of his tenure.

Soni reportedly wanted to spend more time on social and religious activities and was not ambitious about taking the position.

During Soni’s ascension as the chairman of the UPSC, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said. “India’s Constitution is being demolished, one Institution at a time,” sharing a report by The Wire, noting close ties of Soni with RSS and BJP circles. “Union Pracharak Sangh Commission,” wrote Rahul Gandhi, attacking the union government on the appointment of Soni in a post on X.

Union Pracharak Sangh Commission.

India’s Constitution is being demolished, one Institution at a time. pic.twitter.com/8HEMnmVyTo

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 18, 2022

Read Also: Puja Khedkar’s Mother, Arrested Over Gun Video, Faces Attempt to Murder Charge

On July 19, the UPSC filed a complaint against the IAS trainee Puja Khedkar for allegedly misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities and OBC categories to avail advantages in the examination. The row over the Khedkar triggered discussion on the forging of fake certificates on social media, with many users pointing out several similar instances by the serving IAS and IPS officers.

Users have even named some of the officers, sharing the details and claiming that several IAS and IPS users forged fake certificates to avail benefits of Other Backward Class (non-creamy layer) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).