After the resignation of Manoj Soni, the appointment of a new UPSC chairperson has been announced, Preeti Sudan, retired Union Health Secretary will assume the role of the new chairperson of UPSC with effect from August 1, 2024. Her appointment has been sanctioned under Article 316A of the Indian Constitution.
Preceding her was Dr. Manoj Soni, whose tenure was supposed to end in 2029, but resigned a few days back citing “personal reasons”.
Is Preeti Sudan the first female chairman of UPSC?
No, she’s the second one. First was, Mrs. Rose Millian Bathew Kharbuli, who served as the chairperson of UPSC from 23 September 1992 to 23 August 1996.
Who is IAS Preeti Sudan?
An IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre 1983 batch, Sudan has worked in public service for nearly 37 years. In her extensive career, she has worked in many spheres of Government Administration. Her last stint was as the Union Health Secretary, where she effectively handled the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her career graph is good with her holding key positions at the:
| Department of Food and Public Distribution |
| Ministry of Women and Child Development |
| Ministry of Defence |
She had played a pivotal role in programmes like:
| Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao |
| Ayushman Bharat |
| Ban on e-cigarettes |
In her cadre state Andhra Pradesh, she handled finance, agriculture, disaster management, and tourism.
Not only at the national level, she has worked internationally as a consultant with the World Bank.
As per some reports, she holds a degree in Economics and Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics.
Preeti Sudan’s appointment as UPSC chairperson
Her appointment was confirmed in a letter addressed by Additional Secretary Manoj Kumar Dwivedi to UPSC Secretary Shashi Ranjan Kumar. The formal letter states that Manoj Soni’s resignation has been accepted by the President and so was her appointment as UPSC chairperson.
She will take charge on August 1, 2024, and will continue her tenure till April 29, 2025.