Preeti Sudan The New UPSC Chairperson Takes Charge From August 1
Preeti Sudan, the 1983 batch (retired) IAS officer of the Andra Pradesh cadre has been appointed as the new UPSC Chairperson. In 2022, she was appointed as a member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Her appointment came after the resignation of former UPSC chairperson Manoj Soni who resigned due to personal reasons nearly five years before his tenure ends in 2029. Soni was sworn in as the Chairperson on May 16, 2023.
Preeti Sudan, the newly appointed chairperson, has also served as the Union Health Secretary in 2020, in the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Defence ministry. Sudan will take charge as the UPSC chairperson on August 1.
During her service in the Andra Pradesh cadre, she handled finance and planning, disaster management, tourism, and agriculture departments.
Sudan earned her degree in Economics and Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and reportedly, trained in public finance management in Washington.
Read also: UPSC Cancels Candidature Of Puja Khedkar, Debars From Future Exams.
UPSC is a constitutional body under Article 315-323 part XIV of the Indian Constitution. It conducts various examinations including the most coveted exam the Union Public Services Examination every year and recommends candidates for the appointment of IAS, IFS, IPS, and other central services of Group A and Group B. The commission is headed by a Chairperson and can have a maximum of 10 members.
How the UPSC chairperson is appointed?
The UPSC chairperson is appointed by the President for a term of six years or until the age of 65 years. The terms of the appointment of the Chairperson are given under Article 316 of the Constitution. A UPSC chairperson who has once held office as a member of the Public Service Commission is ineligible for reappointment to that office.
The Chairperson can be removed from the office by the order of the President of India. The expenses of the UPSC chairperson including salary, allowances, and pensions are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India.
