Ajay Kumar Trends After Being Appointed UPSC Chairman: Ex-Defence Secretary Behind Agniveer, CDS Role

In a significant development trending across platforms, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has appointed Dr Ajay Kumar as its new chairman.

The government issued the official notification on Tuesday, 14 May. Dr Kumar succeeds Preeti Sudan, whose term ended on 29 April.

His tenure as UPSC chairman will extend until October 2027.

Dr Ajay Kumar holds a B Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur.

He further pursued higher education in the United States, earning a Master’s in Applied Economics and a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota.

He is also a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineers, highlighting his technical and administrative acumen.

Distinguished Bureaucratic Career

Beginning his administrative journey with Kerala’s KELTRON, Dr Kumar went on to serve as the Collector of Palakkad district and held key positions in the Kerala government, including Principal Secretary of the IT Department.

Nationally, he made his mark as India’s longest-serving Defence Secretary.

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Notably, he was instrumental in creating the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and launching the Agniveer recruitment scheme—two of the most transformative changes in India’s defence framework in recent years.

Post-Retirement Contributions And Academic Engagements

Even after his retirement, Dr Kumar remained active in India’s innovation ecosystem.

He mentored several startups and founded MGF-Kavach, successfully raising a ₹250 crore fund. Additionally, he serves as a visiting professor at IIT Kanpur.

Awards And Accolades

Dr Kumar’s career is adorned with several honours:

• 2013: Named Electronics Leader of the Year
• 2019: Received an Honorary Doctorate from Amity University, Noida
• 2019: Featured in Asia Post’s Top 50 Executive Bureaucrats
• 2019: Awarded Distinguished Alumni by IIT Kanpur
• 2021: Inducted as a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering

Anuradha Prasad Joins As Member

Alongside Dr Kumar’s appointment, the government has named Anuradha Prasad as a member of UPSC.

The commission is responsible for selecting officers for prestigious services such as IAS, IPS, and IFS.

UPSC currently has 10 sanctioned members, including the chairman, with two positions remaining vacant.

President Droupadi Murmu approved Dr Kumar’s appointment. According to UPSC rules, the chairman can serve a term of six years or until reaching the age of 65 whichever comes first.