It is important to note that Soni’s resignation is not related to any controversies or allegations surrounding the UPSC, including the issue involving probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, as clarified by official sources.
Who is Manoj Soni?
Dr. Manoj Soni, now the former Chairman of the UPSC, has an extensive academic background, having served three terms as Vice-Chancellor. He completed two consecutive terms as Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) from August 1, 2009, to July 31, 2015, and one term as Vice-Chancellor of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda from April 2005 to April 2008.
Soni, known for his close association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, became the Vice-Chancellor of his alma mater, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 2005. At the age of 40, he was the youngest Vice-Chancellor in India. A scholar in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations Studies, Dr. Soni taught International Relations at Sardar Patel University (SPU), Vallabh Vidyanagar, from 1991 to 2016, except during his terms as Vice-Chancellor.
His tenure at the UPSC began on June 28, 2017, when he became a member of the Commission. He took the oath as chairperson on May 16, 2023, bringing his expertise and administrative skills to one of India’s most prestigious institutions responsible for recruiting candidates into top government services like IAS, IPS, and IFS. Dr. Soni has received several awards and recognitions, including the rare honor of “Honorary Mayor-President of the City of Baton Rouge” in 2013 for his exemplary leadership in empowering disadvantaged sections of society with IT literacy.
Why Did UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni Resign?
Soni, who joined the UPSC as a member in 2017 and took over as its chairman last year, is reportedly keen to step down to devote more time to “socio-religious” activities. According to a TOI report, Soni wants to dedicate his time to serving the Anoopam Mission, a non-profit organization linked to the Swaminarayan sect with which he has been deeply involved.
In 2020, Soni formalized his dedication to the mission by taking ‘diksha’ or vow as a ‘nishkarma karmayogi’ or selfless worker, becoming a ‘monk’ and further cementing his commitment to the mission’s ideals. Soni submitted his resignation nearly four weeks ago, as per reports, expressing his desire to focus on these socio-religious commitments.
