Dr. Ajay Kumar Appointed as New UPSC Chairman: Key Highlights for UPSC & Competitive Exams
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has a new chairman: Dr. Ajay Kumar, a distinguished former Defence Secretary and 1985-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre. His appointment, effective May 2025, follows the completion of Preeti Sudan’s tenure and is a significant development for all aspirants preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and other competitive exams.
Who is Dr. Ajay Kumar?
Background:
1985-batch IAS officer, Kerala cadre
Former Defence Secretary (Aug 2019 – Oct 2022)
Alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BTech)
PhD in Business Administration and MS in Applied Economics from University of Minnesota
Served in key roles under governments led by BJP, Congress, and the Left
Professional Achievements:
Longest-serving Defence Secretary of India
Architect of major defence reforms:
Creation of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
Launch of Agniveer scheme
Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiatives in defence
Corporatisation of the 200-year-old Ordnance Factories Board
Led Digital India initiatives:
UPI (Unified Payments Interface)
Aadhaar
myGov platform
Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
Framed National Electronics Policy 2012
Other Key Roles:
Principal Secretary and MD of KELTRON, Kerala
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & IT
Director General, National Informatics Centre
Tenure and Appointment Details
Appointed by: President Droupadi Murmu
Term: Until October 2027 or until he turns 65, whichever is earlier
Predecessor: Preeti Sudan
Oath Administered by: Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), senior-most UPSC member
Exam-Relevant Quick Facts
UPSC Chairman’s Role: Heads the commission responsible for recruiting top civil servants (IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.)
Appointment Clause: Article 316(1) of the Constitution of India
Term: 6 years or up to age 65, whichever is earlier
Dr. Ajay Kumar’s Notable Reforms:
Defence: CDS, Agniveer, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Ordnance Factories corporatisation
Digital Governance: UPI, Aadhaar, myGov, GeM
Academic Credentials: IIT Kanpur, University of Minnesota (PhD, MS)
Previous Roles: Defence Secretary, Principal Secretary (Kerala), MD KELTRON, DG NIC
Bullet Points for Quick Revision
Dr. Ajay Kumar is the new UPSC Chairman (May 2025)
Former Defence Secretary, known for transformative reforms
Instrumental in Digital India and defence sector modernization
Appointment under Article 316(1) of the Constitution
Tenure: Up to October 2027 or age 65
Succeeds Preeti Sudan as UPSC Chairman
Related Resources from Atharva Examwise
Current Affairs May 2025 – Top 10 Daily GK Updates
UPSC Preparation Strategy: Key Appointments & Policy Changes
Comprehensive UPSC Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Why this matters for your exam preparation
Prelims & Mains Relevance:
Questions on recent appointments, especially of constitutional bodies like UPSC, are common in both Prelims and Mains (GS Paper 2: Polity & Governance).
Interview Perspective:
Understanding Dr. Ajay Kumar’s reforms in defence and digital governance can help you answer questions on administrative leadership, policy implementation, and government innovation.
Static + Current Affairs Linkage:
This update connects static polity (UPSC structure, Article 316) with current affairs, a frequent UPSC trend.
Essay & Ethics Angle:
Dr. Kumar’s cross-sectoral leadership and reformist approach provide real-world examples for essays and ethics case studies.
Stay updated with Atharva Examwise Current Affairs for more exam-focused analysis and practice questions.
Prepare smart. Stay ahead. Every detail counts in the UPSC journey!
