UPSC chairman tenders resignation, citing personal reasons, unclear if accepted

UPSC chairman Manoj Soni tenders resignation due to personal reasons. His resignation has not been accepted yet, as per sources from Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Manoj Soni, the Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), has resigned from his position nearly five years before the completion of his tenure, citing personal reasons. It is learnt that Soni submitted his resignation about a month ago.

Soni initially joined the UPSC as a member in 2017 and assumed the role of Chairperson on May 16, 2023. His tenure was originally scheduled to conclude in 2029. As of now, the government has not yet accepted his resignation, and it remains uncertain whether he will be relieved from his duties. The process to appoint a new Chairperson is underway, with an official announcement expected soon.

Prior to his tenure at UPSC, Manoj Soni held prominent positions in academia, including three terms as Vice-Chancellor at universities in Gujarat. He was notably appointed Vice-Chancellor of MS University in Vadodara by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2005, becoming the youngest V-C in the country at that time. Soni's association with PM Modi has been highlighted in media reports.

The UPSC, a constitutional body mandated by Article 315-323 Part XIV Chapter II of the Indian constitution, is headed by the Chairperson and comprises up to 10 other members.