UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni Resigns Citing "Personal Reasons"; Congress Questions Timing Amid Puja Khedkar Controversy

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman Manoj Soni has resigned from his post five years ahead of his scheduled end of tenure in 2029, citing “personal reasons”.

The resignation of the 59-year-old alumnus of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, comes at a time when the commission has filed a criminal case against probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar for faking her identity to fraudulently avail attempts in the civil services examination.

However, PTI quoted sources as saying that Soni’s resignation is “not in any way connected to controversies and allegations surrounding the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar issue came to the fore”.

Soni, who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, joined the Commission as a member on 28 June 2017, and assumed the role of chairperson on 16 May 2023, Indian Express reported.

Deeply involved with the Anoopam Mission, a non-profit organisation originating from the Swaminarayan sect and founded in Mogri, Anand district of Gujarat, Soni is likely to be more active with the organisation that has centres abroad, especially The United States.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that Soni was "nudged out" of the UPSC amid the ongoing controversy.

In a post on X, Ramesh criticised the state of constitutional bodies in India since 2014, the year Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office.

"The sanctity, character, autonomy, and professionalism of all Constitutional bodies have been badly damaged since 2014," Ramesh said.

"Mr. Modi brought in one of his favourite 'academics' from Gujarat as a UPSC member in 2017 and made him Chairman in 2023 with a six year term. But this so-called distinguished gentleman has now resigned five years before the expiry of his term," he said.

"Whatever the reasons that may be given, it appears clear that he had to be nudged out given the current controversy in which the UPSC is involved," he added.

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