Preeti Sudan: New UPSC Chairperson, Leadership Transition

Appointment and Transition

• Preeti Sudan appointed as new UPSC chairperson
• Will assume charge on August 1, 2024
• Replaces Manoj Soni, who resigned earlier in July
• Sudan's tenure to continue until April 29, 2025, or until further orders
• Appointment accepted by President Droupadi Murmu

Preeti Sudan's Background and Qualifications

• Born on April 30, 1960
• 1983 batch (retired) IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre
• Former Union Health Secretary (2017-2020)
• Served in Women and Child Development and Defence Ministries
• Experience in finance, planning, disaster management, tourism, and agriculture
• Degree in Economics and Social Policy and Planning from London School of Economics
• Trained in public finance management in Washington

Career Highlights and Contributions

• Played crucial role in strategic response to COVID-19 pandemic as Health Secretary
• Instrumental in planning and implementing Ayushman Bharat Yojana
• Served as Secretary of Department of Food and Public Distribution
• Consultant at World Bank
• Member of Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR)
• Board member of Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH)

Context of Leadership Change

• Manoj Soni resigned almost five years before his tenure end (2029)
• Resignation amid controversy involving probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar
• Khedkar allegedly used fraudulent disability and caste certificates
• Sources claim Soni's resignation unrelated to the controversy
• Leadership change occurs during ongoing UPSC recruitment process scrutiny

UPSC Overview and Responsibilities

• Constitutional body established under Articles 315-323 Part XIV Chapter II
• Conducts various examinations for Union government
• Organizes annual civil services examinations
• Recommends candidates for IAS, IFS, IPS, and Central Services Group A and B
• Led by Chairperson with maximum of 10 members