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Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson Manoj Soni has resigned due to "personal reasons", almost five years before his tenure was to end in 2029, sources told India Today. However, sources said Soni's resignation was not related to the controversy surrounding probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly submitted fraudulent disability and caste certificates to get selected.
Manoj Soni became a member of the UPSC, a constitutional body, in 2017. On May 16, 2023, he took over as chairperson of the commission, which conducts the civil services exam (CSE) to recruit candidates into top government services like IAS, IPS, IFS.
According to sources, Manoj Soni had submitted his resignation to the President about a month ago. However, it is not clear whether his resignation will be accepted or not.
Before his appointment to the UPSC in 2017, Soni had served three terms as a vice-chancellor at two universities in Gujarat.
He held two consecutive terms from 2009 to 2015 as the vice-chancellor of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU), Gujarat. He also served as the vice-chancellor of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda from 2005 to 2008. Soni became the youngest VC in India during his tenure at MSU Baroda.
With a specialisation in international relations studies, Manoj Soni is a renowned scholar of political science.
The UPSC recently lodged a criminal case against Puja Khedkar for "misrepresenting and falsifying facts" while appearing for the civil services examination.
The UPSC has also issued her a show cause notice for the cancellation of her selection and debarment from future examinations.
Following the UPSC complaint, Delhi Police has registered a case involving charges of forgery and cheating.
"UPSC has filed a complaint with Delhi Police against Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar for misrepresenting and falsifying facts to obtain extra attempts in the UPSC examinations, beyond the prescribed limit. Consequently, a case has been registered under the relevant sections of the law," Delhi Police said in a statement.
