New Delhi: Dr. Manoj Soni, the Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), has resigned as of Saturday, citing personal reasons. According to a news agency, his resignation has not yet been officially accepted.

Dr. Soni, an educationist and former Vice-Chancellor of M.S. University served as a member of the UPSC from June 28, 2017, to May 15, 2023. At the age of 59, he began his tenure as UPSC Chairman on May 16, 2023. His term was initially set to conclude on May 15, 2029.

It is reported that Soni had previously expressed reluctance to assume the chairmanship and had requested to be relieved of the position, though his request was not accommodated at that time. He has now indicated a desire to devote more time to “socio-religious activities.”

Before joining the UPSC, Soni completed his studies in Political Science with a focus on International Relations. He earned a Ph.D. from Sardar Patel University with a thesis on “Post-Cold War International Systemic Transition and Indo-US Relations.” Soni has also served as Vice-Chancellor on three separate occasions: once at M.S. University of Baroda and twice at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University in Gujarat. Notably, he was recognized as the youngest Vice-Chancellor in independent India. Throughout his career, Soni has received numerous awards and accolades, and his research has been published in several esteemed journals.

This development is significant in light of the recent UPSC announcement regarding the filing of a criminal case against trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar for falsifying her identity to gain extra attempts in the civil services examination. The UPSC has also taken steps to disqualify her from future selections. DeshGujarat