Manoj Soni, the chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), submitted his resignation on January 31, 2029, for “personal reasons,” nearly five years prior to the conclusion of his term. Manoj Soni submitted his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu nearly one month ago, according to reliable sources. However, the acceptance of his resignation remains dubious.
Details of the Early Resignation
The current scandal involving Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer who is allegedly suspected of using false caste and disability certificates to secure selection, is unrelated to Manoj Soni’s resignation, according to reports. Manoj Soni’s resignation is not associated with this matter, despite the ongoing criminal investigation and case against Khedkar, according to sources.
Career and Achievements
On May 16, 2023, Manoj Soni succeeded Pradip Kumar Joshi as the commission’s new chair. Candidates for distinguished government positions, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), are identified through the Civil Services Examination (CSE) administered by the UPSC.
Manoj Soni served as the Vice-Chancellor of two Gujarati universities prior to his appointment to the UPSC. He was the Vice-Chancellor of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) for two consecutive mandates from 2009 to 2015. From 2005 to 2008, he was the youngest Vice-Chancellor in India, serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Manoj Soni is a distinguished political scientist who specializes in international relations.
Disputation and Investigation
The UPSC charged Puja Khedkar with a felony for “misrepresenting and falsifying facts” during her civil services exam. Khedkar is accused of submitting fraudulent caste and handicap documents in order to obtain a greater number of UPSC exam attempts than were permitted. She has been issued a show-cause notice by the UPSC regarding the potential disqualification from future examinations and the annulment of her selection.
After the Delhi Police filed a case against her in response to the UPSC’s allegation, Khedkar was charged with forgery and deception. The UPSC has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar for intentionally fabricating and misleading information in order to obtain an increased number of attempts in the UPSC exams. Consequently, a complaint has been submitted in compliance with the relevant legal provisions, as per the Delhi Police.
The Structure and Function of UPSC
The UPSC is established as a constitutional body by the Indian Constitution’s Articles 315–323, Part XIV, Chapter II. The commission, which is presided over by the chairman, is limited to a maximum of ten members. Former Gujarat Public Service Commission Chairman Dinesh Dasa, former IAS officer BB Swain, former IPS officer Sheel Vardhan Singh, former diplomat Sanjay Verma, and former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan were notable members of the commission under Manoj Soni’s leadership.
The commission undergoes a substantial transformation with the resignation of Manoj Soni, a seasoned academic and administrator. The acceptance of his resignation is currently pending, and the search for his successor is expected to commence in the near future.
