UPSC chief quits 5 years ahead of term; Congress says nudged out
New Delhi, July 20
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman Manoj Soni tendered his resignation five years ahead of his scheduled exit in 2029 with official sources saying the move has nothing to do with the ongoing controversy involving IAS probationer Puja Khedkar.
The resignation has not yet been accepted. The UPSC on Friday registered an FIR against probationer Khedkar over mass scale fraud including forging of identity to become eligible for multiple attempts at the civil services exam. Khedkar, who qualified in 2022, is now facing cancellation of candidature. Though official sources said Soni had put in his papers a fortnight ago citing personal reasons, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he had been asked to go amid controversies.
“The BJP-RSS is systematically indulging in an institutional takeover of India’s constitutional bodies, damaging their reputation, integrity and autonomy. The multiple scandals that have plagued the UPSC is a cause for national concern. PM Modi and his Minister of Personnel must come clean. Numerous cases of unqualified individuals faking caste and medical certificates seemed to have duped a ‘fool-proof’ system,” Kharge said on X. He said this is a direct affront to the genuine aspirations of lakhs of aspirants, including SC, ST, OBC, EWS candidates.
“It is disconcerting how the UPSC Chairperson has resigned prematurely. Why was his resignation kept secret for a month? Is there any connection between the numerous scandals and the resignation?” Kharge asked, adding “This blue-eyed gem of Modi ji was brought in from Gujarat and promoted as UPSC chief.”
