UPSC Chairperson Manoj Soni Resigns Citing 'Personal Reasons': Sources

New Delhi: UPSC chairman Manoj Soni has submitted his resignation citing ‘personal reasons’ before expiry of his tenure in May 2029. His resignation has not been accepted yet, said Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) sources.

" UPSC chairman h tendered his resignation citing personal reasons over a fortnight back. It is yet to be accepted," a source said.

Soni resigned nearly five years before his term was set to end in 2029. Soni, who joined Commission as a Member in 2017, was sworn in as Chairperson on May 16, 2023. He became 31st chairman of UPSC, succeeding Prip Kumar Joshi.

Soni reportedly submitted his resignation to President of India, but government has not yet accepted it. As a result, it remains uncertain wher he will be relieved of his position. government is also expected to announce name of new chairperson to succeed Soni.

His resignation is "not in any way connected to controversies and allegations surrounding Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar issue came to fore," official sources said.

Who is Manoj Soni?

Eminent educationist Soni, 59, took over as a member of Commission on June 28, 2017. He took oath as UPSC chairman on May 16, 2023 and his term was to end on May 15, 2029.

Sources said Soni was not keen on becoming UPSC chairman and h requested to be relieved. However, his request was not accepted n, sources said.

y said Soni has now desired to devote more time to "socio-religious activities."

development assumes significance as UPSC on Friday said it has lodged a criminal case against Khedkar for faking her identity to fraudulently avail attempts in civil services examination beyond eligibility, and taken steps to debar her from future selections.

Since Khedkar's case of misusing power and privileges came to fore, social media is abuzz with claims and counter-claims on use of fake certificates by serving Indian ministrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, among ors.

Social media users have shared names, pictures and or details of a few IAS and IPS officers, claiming y used bogus certificates to claim benefits available for those belonging to Or Backward Class (non-creamy layer) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Prior to his appointment in UPSC, Soni h served three terms as Vice-Chancellor.

se include two consecutive terms from August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2015 as VC of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU), Gujarat; and one term as VC of Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda from April 2005 to April 2008.

At time of joining MSU, Soni was youngest ever Vice-Chancellor in India.

A scholar of political science with specialisation in international relations, Soni taught international relations at Sardar Patel University (SPU), Vallabh Vidyanagar between 1991 and 2016, except for period when he served as Vice-Chancellor of two universities.

Soni has earned a number of recognitions and awards and has significant number of publications to his credit.

UPSC is heed by a chairman and can have a maximum of ten members. At present, re are seven members in UPSC, three less than its sanctioned strength.