Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan will take over as the new UPSC chairperson starting Thursday. She will replace Manoj Soni and will hold the position until April 2025. Sudan, a retired IAS officer of the 1983 batch, has previously held key roles in various ministries and initiated significant flagship programmes. She has also served as a consultant with the World Bank and has been part of several global health initiatives.
Preeti Sudan: India's New UPSC Chairperson
The Public Service Commission (UPSC), India's premier recruitment agency for civil servants, has appointed Preeti Sudan as its new chairperson, effective April 13, 2023. She succeeds Manoj Soni, whose tenure ended on April 12.
Background
Preeti Sudan is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1983 batch. She holds a Master's degree in Mathematics from the University of Delhi and has served in various ministries and departments throughout her career.
Key Roles
As Union Health Secretary from 2018 to 2021, Sudan played a pivotal role in India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was responsible for coordinating the country's vaccine rollout, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and ensuring the safety of healthcare workers.
Sudan has also held key positions in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, where she initiated the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' (PMAY), a flagship program to provide affordable housing to the urban poor. She has also served as the Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Global Contributions
In addition to her work in India, Sudan has served as a consultant with the World Bank and has been part of several global health initiatives. She has been recognized internationally for her contributions to public health, including a nomination for the 2020 Global Health 50 award.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Who is Preeti Sudan? A: Preeti Sudan is a retired IAS officer who has been appointed as the new UPSC chairperson.
2. What are her qualifications? A: Sudan holds a Master's degree in Mathematics and has over 38 years of administrative experience.
3. What was her role in the COVID-19 pandemic? A: As Union Health Secretary, Sudan coordinated India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw the country's vaccination program.
4. What are her plans as UPSC chairperson? A: Sudan has not yet announced her specific plans, but she is expected to bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the role.
5. How long will she serve as UPSC chairperson? A: Sudan's term is for five years, until April 2025.
After Chief Justice Gavai's formal recommendation, Union Government is set to appoint Justice Surya Kant as the next Chief Justice of India. With a distinguished legal career and key institutional roles, Justice Kant is highly regarded for his commitment to electoral transparency and landmark verdicts on various issues including abrogation of Article 370 and free speech. His term is expected to begin on November 24, 2025, and last for approximately 15 months.
On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the fourth edition of the India Maritime Week 2025, where renowned leaders, policymakers, and maritime experts from India and abroad are expected to participate over the next 5 days. In his keynote speech, Shah highlighted India's growing maritime strength and strategic location, citing the government's efforts to increase port handling capacity and develop new mega and deep-draft ports. He also inaugurated state-of-the-art Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna at Mumbai's Mazagaon Dock. The event, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is being held in partnership with the Indian Ports Association and will conclude on October 31.
The annual Chhath Puja festival has once again become a battleground for Delhi's political parties, with the AAP accusing the BJP-led government of creating an "artificial Yamuna" to cater to PM Modi's ceremonial dip while ordinary devotees are forced to pray in the highly-polluted river. While AAP leaders criticize BJP for disregarding the sentiments of devotees, the latter defends their preparations, citing "unprecedented arrangements" for the festival. However, as the parties argue, environmental reports continue to warn about the dangerous levels of pollution in the Yamuna, posing a serious threat to the health of devotees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to share his Diwali celebration on board the INS Vikrant with the Indian Navy. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and highlighted the juxtaposition of the vast ocean and Mother India's brave soldiers. The Prime Minister also witnessed an impressive Air Power Demo and participated in the Bara Khana with naval personnel.
The Mahadev Khola Dham Welfare Trust in Meghalaya has accused local authorities of violating the rights of the Hindu community during Diwali celebrations. The Trust claims that an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, ordering the closure of a shop selling puja materials, infringes on their constitutional rights. The Trust, which has been a place of worship for over a century, argues that this order was made without proper notice or verification and goes against earlier permission granted for the shop to operate during the festival. They have appealed for the withdrawal of the order and the safeguarding of their religious and cultural heritage.
As Chhath celebrations are underway in Delhi, the AAP has accused the BJP of creating an artificial ghat at Vasudev Ghat and filling it with filtered water for PM Modi's ceremonial dip. The BJP has denied the allegations and called them a display of political frustration. The issue has sparked a political controversy with AAP's top leaders launching an attack on X and accusing the BJP of insulting the religious sentiments of Chhath devotees. With the state elections in Bihar approaching, the festival has gained political significance for both parties.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta insures that extensive preparations have been made for the Chhath festival this year for Purvanchal brothers and sisters at all Yamuna ghats from Palla to Kalindi. Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra joined BJP Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva in visiting several Chhath Ghats across Delhi to review arrangements, including cleanliness, lighting, safety, and traffic management. Together, they ensure a memorable Chhath festival for devotees with the blessings of Chhathi Maiya.
Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty has clarified that the state government agreed to join the Centre's PM SHRI scheme to prevent the loss of approximately ₹1,500 crore in central funds. He stated that the state will not compromise on its education policies and will continue to publish its own textbooks. With the agreement allowing either party to withdraw at any time, the minister asserted that Kerala has the right to approach the court if necessary. He added that funds from the scheme are also used to support autism centres and other projects in the state, making it crucial for the education department to take steps to prevent the loss of funds.
In the 127th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the enduring significance of the national song 'Vande Mataram'. He urged all Indians to celebrate the 150th year of the song's composition and instill its message of patriotism and unity in the younger generations. Tracing its origins, PM Modi highlighted how the song reflects India's ancient wisdom and the powerful bond between "Ma Bharati" and her children. The programme, launched in 2014, aims to connect with various segments of Indian society and is now broadcast in multiple languages across the world.
During his monthly radio programme, PM Narendra Modi addressed various topics including the importance of Chhath festival in showcasing India's social unity, the recent success of Operation Sindoor by the armed forces, and the upcoming celebrations for Sardar Patel's birth anniversary and Birsa Munda's legacy. He also urged citizens to participate in the Run for Unity event on October 31 and highlighted the significance of 'Vande Mataram' in Indian culture.