UPSC chairman Manoj Soni quits 5 years before term ends

UPSC chairman Manoj Soni has tendered his resignation barely a year into his six-year tenure, citing “personal reasons”. The news of his resignation, believed to have been submitted to the President some time back, comes amid the controversy over IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s selection to the civil services based on forged identity, which had led UPSC to file a police complaint against her.
Govt sources, however, said that Soni’s resignation was not linked in any way to the Khedkar episode. “The resignation was submitted almost a month ago, well before the IAS probationer’s selection became a matter of probe,” an officer said.
There is no clarity on whether govt has taken any call yet on accepting Soni’s resignation. A source indicated that govt may be mulling over a suitable replacement before relieving Soni.
Soni, who had joined UPSC as a member in 2017 and took over as its chairman last year, is said to be keen to step down to devote more time to “socio-religious” activities. Reports indicated that he wants to give his undivided time to serving the Anoopam Mission, a non-profit organization linked to the Swaminarayan sect that he is deeply involved with. The resignation is also said to have mentioned health reasons, according to a source.
Soni, an academician, became the Vice-Chancellor of his alma mater Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 2005. Only 40 years then, he was the youngest ever vice-chancellor in India. Later from 2009 to 2015, Soni was vice-chancellor of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Gujarat for two terms.
UPSC had filed an FIR with the Delhi Police against Puja Khedkar for having fraudulently availed of attempts at the Civil Services Exam (CSE) beyond the permissible limit by faking her identity by way of changing her name, her father’s and mother’s name, her photograph/signature, her email ID, mobile number and address. It also issued Khedkar a show-cause notice for cancellation of candidature for CSE 2022 and her debarment from future examinations/selection.