New Delhi, May 13 (PTI) Former defence secretary Ajay Kumar was on Tuesday appointed chairman of the UPSC, according to a Union Personnel Ministry order.

The post of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairman fell vacant after the completion of Preeti Sudan's tenure on April 29.

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Kumar's appointment was cleared by President Droupadi Murmu, according to the order.

A 1985-batch retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre, Kumar worked as defence secretary from August 23, 2019, to October 31, 2022, according to his service records.

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The UPSC -- which conducts civil services examinations to select officers for the IAS, Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), among others -- is headed by a chairman and can have a maximum of 10 members.

At present, there is a vacancy of two members in the commission.

A UPSC chairman is appointed for a term of six years or until attaining 65 years of age.

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