In a surprising move, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairperson Manoj Soni has tendered his resignation nearly five years before the completion of his tenure, citing personal reasons. Soni, who became a member of the UPSC in 2017 and assumed office as chairman on May 16, 2023, resigned nearly a month ago according to a report by ‘The Hindu’. It remains unclear whether his resignation will be accepted.

Soni’s resignation has sparked speculation within administrative circles, especially amid the controversy surrounding trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar. However, official sources have clarified that his resignation is unrelated to the recent controversies involving the UPSC, including the Khedkar episode and ongoing questions regarding the conduct of IAS/IPS exams.

Puja Khedkar, a 2023 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been accused of faking her caste and medical certificates. The 34-year-old officer made headlines over allegations of demanding a separate office, staff, and quarters — privileges she is not entitled to as a probationer. Pune police are probing charges that she used a red beacon and an insignia of the Maharashtra government on her private Audi vehicle.

Khedkar is facing allegations of submitting fake certificates to secure her job and asking for special privileges at the workplace, amounting to charges of cheating. The UPSC has filed an FIR against Khedkar and issued a show-cause notice, asking why her candidature as an IAS officer should not be cancelled in light of the allegations.