Dr. Ajay Kumar, a 1985-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Kerala cadre and former Defence Secretary of India, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Dr. Kumar is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer from the 1985 batch of the Kerala cadre. He previously served as the Defence Secretary from August 2019 to October 2022.

His appointment fills the vacancy left by Preeti Sudan, who retired on April 29, 2025.

Key Highlights:

• Dr. Kumar officially took charge as UPSC Chairman on May 15, 2025. The oath of office was administered by Lt. General Raj Shukla (Retd), the senior-most member of the Commission. 
• As per Article 316(1) of the Constitution of India, Dr. Kumar's tenure will extend until October 2027, when he reaches the age of 65, or for a term of six years, whichever is earlier. 
• Dr. Kumar holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. His academic credentials are complemented by a distinguished career in public administration. 

Throughout his career, Dr. Kumar has held several key positions, including:

• Defence Secretary of India (2019–2022)
• Secretary, Department of Defence Production
• Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
• Director General, National Informatics Centre

He has been instrumental in initiatives such as the Digital India programme, the corporatization of the Ordnance Factory Board, and the establishment of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework. 

After retiring from the civil service, Dr. Kumar continued to contribute to the public and private sectors. He founded MGF-Kavachh, a SEBI-approved venture capital fund supporting startups in aerospace and deep-tech sectors.

Additionally, he serves as an advisor to the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and holds academic positions, including a distinguished visiting professorship at IIT Kanpur. 

Significance:

Dr. Ajay Kumar's appointment as UPSC Chairman brings a wealth of experience in governance, technology, and defense to the Commission. His leadership is expected to enhance the transparency and efficiency of India's premier civil services recruitment body, aligning with contemporary administrative and technological advancements.