Ajay Kumar UPSC Chairman: Will 37 Years Of Expertise Can Transform India’s Civil Services? Let's Find Out!

Ajay Kumar UPSC Chairman: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) serves as the ways and means for the government to select some of the best aspirants amongst the lakhs of candidates who applies each year in the hope of becoming country’s top bureaucrat and shape India’s national policies and ways and means of governance as well by assisting the functioning of the government with their vast knowledge. One such top bureaucrat is Mr. Ajay Kumar, on 14th May, 2025, he got appointed as the new chairman of UPSC council.

Mr. Ajay Kumar, a well seasoned top bureaucrat, who has a legacy of over 37 years in the government administration, serving the country, being part of the mountain shifting policy making, digital reforms, and more yet to come. With his appointment as the new chairman of UPSC council, it is expected that his legacy of digital innovation and major reforms as secretary of defence of india, he shall make some major reforms as the chairman of UPSC council.

In this article, we shall explore Mr. Ajay Kumar’s life journey, where he was born, educational qualifications, roles in different government organizations, his pivot role in policy making, how his legacy of 37 years in Indian Administration led to the appointment as the new chairman of UPSC council.

Table of Contents

Ajay Kumar UPSC Chairman: Who Is Ajay Kumar? An Overview of His Life Journey

From IIT Kanpur to Defence Secretary: The Making of a Visionary Leader

Ajay Kumar, born in Uttar Pradesh in 1962.

Educational Qualifications: Academic Prowess

Engineering Degree:Did B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur.
Masters: Did MS(Masters in Science) in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota.
PhD: Completed his PhD in Business Administration in a span of just three years.
IAS Officer: In the year 1985, he became an IAS (Indian Administration Services) officer.

Key Career Highlights:

Kerala Cadre Roles (1985–2010): As District Magistrate and Principal Secretary, he revived state corporations like KELTRON, blending grassroots governance with tech innovation.
Digital India Architect (2010–2019): At the Ministry of Electronics & IT, he spearheaded Aadhaar, UPI, and the Government e-Marketplace, laying the foundation for India’s digital revolution.
Defence Production Secretary: Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on 1 December 2017.
- Focused on modernizing defence PSUs and encouraging indigenization.
Defence Secretary (2019–2022): Longest served as the defence secretary in the history of Defence Secretaries from August 23rd, 2019, to October 31st, 2022.
- He modernized India’s defence sector through the Agniveer scheme, creation of CDS (Chief Of Defence Staff), corporatization of ordnance factories, and the iDEX startup ecosystem.
  - Commissioned key vessels such as ICGS Saksham and INS Vagsheer.
Post-Retirement Ventures: Advised the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and launched a ₹250-crore fund for defence startups.

Appointment of The Chairman of UPSC

Official Announcement

Date of Appointment: 14th May, 2025.
Appointing Authority: President Of India, i.e. President Droupadi Murmu, on the basis of recommendations from the Union Ministry of Personnel and Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
Predecessor: Preeti Sudan (term ended 29th April, 2025) The Indian Express.

Role and Term

Term Length: Six years or until reaching 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
Key Responsibilities: Overseeing the conduct of civil services, engineering, forest, and other central examinations.
- Ensuring transparency and efficiency in recruitment.
- Advising the government on personnel matters.

Structure and Role of the UPSC Council

Composition: One Chairman and up to ten members, all appointed by the President of India purely on the recommendation of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet Wikipedia.
Tenure: Each member can hold office for six years or until age 65, with the Chairman entitled to the same term limits.
Functions: Conducting examinations for recruitment to All India Services and other Group A & B posts, advises government on recruitment and disciplinary matters, and conducting departmental examinations for civil servants.

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Conclusion: A New Era for India’s Civil Services

Appointment of Ajay kumar as the new chairman of the UPSC Council will prove to be a pivot role in shaping how this commission conducts examination, selects the candidates for the future administration. Ajay Kumar’s legacy of being tech savvy and his precious 37 years in the various Central and State Government Administrative roles will prove to be a pole shifting move for this Council.

Although, Mr. Kumar do have to upheld his reputation of being part of some major decisive reforms which his predecessors couldn’t do so.

Ajay Kumar UPSC Chairman: Will 37 Years of Expertise can Transform India’s Civil Services? Let’s Find Out!