• Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.
Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar appointed as UPSC Chairman

Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar appointed as UPSC Chairman

Published on May 14, 2025

Advertisement

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Government of India has appointed Dr. Ajay Kumar, a retired IAS officer of the 1985 batch and former Defence Secretary, as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The order, issued by the Union Personnel Ministry on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, marks the commencement of his tenure, succeeding Ms. Preeti Sudan, whose term ended on April 29, 2025.

Dr. Ajay Kumar brings with him a wealth of administrative experience, having served as the Defence Secretary from August 2019 to October 2022. He is known for his pivotal role in transformative defence reforms, including the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff, the AtmaNirbhar Bharat initiatives in defence, the Agniveer scheme, and the corporatization of Ordnance Factories.

An alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the University of Minnesota, Dr. Kumar has also held key positions in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, playing a significant role in Digital India projects and contributing to the National Electronics Policy 2012.

His tenure as the UPSC Chairman will be governed by the provisions of Article 316(2) of the Constitution of India and the UPSC (Members) Regulations, 1969. The appointment has been approved by President Droupadi Murmu.

The UPSC is the premier central recruiting agency in India responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination, which selects candidates for the prestigious IAS, IFS, IPS, and other allied services. The commission is headed by a Chairman and can have up to ten members.

This appointment of a seasoned bureaucrat like Dr. Ajay Kumar is expected to bring strong leadership and guidance to the UPSC at a crucial time.

Advertisement
E-Paper

No epapers found.

Kashmir Weather
KASHMIR WEATHER
Breaking News
  • Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.