 "Meet Preeti Sudan, who will head UPSC amid paper leak and Puja Khedkar controversies")
Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan has been appointed as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson.
She is currently serving as a member of the UPSC and will assume her new role on Thursday, August 1.
Sudan’s appointment, which is granted under Article 316A of the Indian Constitution, follows the resignation of her predecessor, Manoj Soni.
“The President has approved the appointment of Preeti Sudan, Member, UPSC for performing the duties of Chairman, UPSC with effect from August 1, 2024, till further orders or till April 29, 2025, whichever is earlier,” the order dated July 29 said.
Here’s all we know about her.
Who is Preeti Sudan?
Preeti Sudan is a 1983-batch IAS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre.
She earned an M.Phil. in Economics and an MSc in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She received training in Washington on public finance management as well, according to the Indian Express.
As reported by News18, Sudan, who became a member of UPSC on November 29, 2022, has about 37 years of expertise in government administration.
Sudan has an extensive background in public service, having held several key positions, including as Union health secretary for three years till July 2020.
She was instrumental in battling the COVID-19 pandemic during her three years as Health Secretary, especially in the latter six months of her tenure.
She has also worked for the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Defence, and the Food and Public Distribution Department, according to the UPSC website.
Sudan has made numerous notable contributions to national initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, the National Medical Commission Legislation, the Allied Health Professionals Commission, and the e-cigarette ban, as per The Times of India.
In her home cadre Andhra Pradesh, she handled finance, planning, disaster management, tourism, and agriculture.
Preeti Sudan has also previously served as a consultant for the World Bank.
In her current role, her tenure will continue until her retirement in April 2025, when she turns 65. The transition in leadership is now underway.
In her distinguished career, her appointment to the UPSC’s top post represents a major achievement.
Also read: From ‘faking’ separation to corruption: The controversial life of Puja Khedkar’s parents
Manoj Soni’s resignation
The President has also accepted the resignation of Soni with effect from July 31, the order said.
Sudan will take over charge from Manoj Soni, who resigned from UPSC on July 4, citing “personal reasons.”
Soni, who started working with the UPSC as a member in 2017, took office as the chairperson of the Commission on May 16, 2023. His term was supposed to end in 2029.
His resignation comes at a time when the UPSC is under fire following allegations against trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar , who allegedly forged identity papers to gain entry into the civil service. Sources told TOI that Soni’s resignation has nothing to do with the situation.
Meanwhile, in a major blow to Khedkar, the UPSC on Wednesday cancelled her provisional candidature and permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections.
The UPSC said the decision was taken after a careful examination of the available records and found Khedkar guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the Civil Services Examination (CSE)-2022 Rules.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Puja Khedkar’s provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 has been cancelled and she has also been debarred permanently from all the future Examinations/Selections of the UPSC,” the Commission said.
With inputs from agencies
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