- By Ritesh Kumar
- Wed, 31 Jul 2024 01:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
New UPSC Chairperson: Preeti Sudan, an IAS officer from the 1983 batch of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Sudan, who retired as Union Health Secretary in July 2020, has accumulated nearly 37 years of extensive experience in various areas of government administration.
Sudan, who is a member of the UPSC, will assume her new role on Thursday, August 1. She will succeed Manoj Soni, who resigned earlier this month for "personal reasons" before the end of his tenure.
Preeti Sudan Appointed UPSC Chairperson: Educational Background, Key Achievements, And Global Contributions
Educational Background
Preeti Sudan holds degrees in Economics and Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and has received training in public finance management in Washington.
Key Roles And Achievements
Sudan served as Union Health Secretary for three years until July 2020, playing a pivotal role as a key strategist during the Covid-19 pandemic. She was also the Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. Her extensive career includes serving in the ministries of Women and Child Development, Defence, and handling portfolios in finance and planning, disaster management, tourism, and agriculture.
She has made significant contributions to several national programs, including the initiation of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Ayushman Bharat, the ban on e-cigarettes, and the legislation for the National Medical Commission, among others.
Global Contributions
Sudan has served as a consultant with the World Bank and held prominent positions, including Chair of COP-8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and Vice Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. She was also Chair of the Global Digital Health Partnership and a member of WHO’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.