Manoj Soni, UPSC Chairman Confirms Resignation

UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni has submitted his resignation citing personal reasons. Manoj Soni’s resignation has not been accepted yet. The resignation of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson comes five years before the termination of his tenure and a year after taking charge. His tenure is slated to end in 2029.

Who is Manoj Soni?

Manoj Soni , 59, an alumnus of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara. A student of Political Science with specialisation in International Relations Studies, he taught International Relations at Sardar Patel University (SPU), Vallabh Vidyanagar between 1991 and 2016.

• In 2013, Soni was conferred with the rare honour of “Honorary Mayor-President of the City of Baton Rouge” by the Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A., “for his exemplary leadership in empowering disadvantaged sections of society with IT literacy”, as per UPSC.
• In 2015, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, London, U.K., honoured Dr. Soni with the World Education Congress Global Award for Distance Learning Leadership. Dr. Soni has in the past served on the Boards of Governors of several institutions of higher education and public administration.
• Manoj Soni reportedly became a Member of the Commission in 2017 and took oath to office as the Chairperson on May 16 last year.

His Achievement

• In 2005, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close-aid, Manoj Soni, was chosen as the Vice-Chancellor of Vadodara’s MS University.
• Following this appointment, he became the youngest V-C in the country as he was 40-years-old at that time.
• Manoj Soni, who is deeply involved with the Anoopam Mission, a non profit organisation branched out from the Swaminarayan sect and was founded in Mogri, Anand district, is likely to be more active with the organisation that has centres abroad, especially The United States.

His service

Manoj Soni has served as vice-chancellor of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Gujarat for two terms from August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2015, and one term as VC of his alma mater The Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda from April 2005 to April 2008.

• In 2008, he was a member of Justice R. J. Shah (Red.) Fee Regulatory Committee, constituted by the Gujarat legislature for regulating fee structure of un-aided professional institutions in the state.
• In 2009, he was a member of the governing body of Charotar University of Sciences and Technology Changa, and a founder coordinator of the Center for Excellence in Ethics in Politics and Public Administration, funded by the Gujarat government.

His Resignation

The resignation letter has reportedly been submitted to the President of India. Meanwhile, the name of the new Chairperson is awaited.

• This development comes at a time the controversy pertaining to trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar is making headlines. The probationary officer allegedly forged identity papers, presented a disability certificate and sought admission into the esteemed service.
• On July 19, the Commission issued a show-cause notice for the cancelling her candidature from Civil Services Examination, 2022 and registered a criminal case against her.