The Centre has appointed Odia IAS officer Bidyut Bihari Swain as a member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Swain, who earlier served as the MSME Secretary, is a 1988 batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre.
"The President is pleased to appoint Shri Bidyut Bihari Swain, IAS, (GJ:1988), as Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)," a government statement read.
The tenure of Bidyut Bihari Swain, IAS, 1988), as Member, UPSC will commence from the date he enters upon the office of Member, UPSC. The term of his appointment will be regulated in accordance with the provisions of Article 316(2) of the Constitution of India and the conditions of service will be governed by UPSC (Members) Regulations 1969, as amended from time to time," the statement added.
The Centre has also appointed 1990 batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer Suman Sharma as a member of the UPSC. She will be on the post till May 2029 as the tenure of a UPSC member is six years or until he/she attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
Meanwhile, Manoj Soni took the oath of office and secrecy as Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission on Tuesday. The oath was administered by Smita Nagaraj, senior-most Member of the Commission.
Soni joined the Commission as Member on 28.06.2017 and was later on appointed to perform the duties of the post of Chairman, UPSC under Article 316 (A) of the Constitution of India w.e.f. 05.04.2022.
Prior to joining UPSC, Soni studied Political Science with a specialisation in International Relations Studies and earned a doctorate in “ Post-Cold War International Systemic Transition and Indo-US Relations” from Sardar Patel University.
He served a total of three terms as Vice-Chancellor of the M.S. University of Baroda (one term) and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Gujarat for two terms. He has been the youngest-ever Vice Chancellor in independent India.