Preeti Sudan, a distinguished former Union Health Secretary, has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). She will officially assume the position on August 1, succeeding Manoj Soni, who resigned earlier this month citing personal reasons.
Sudan, an IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre from the 1983 batch, brings nearly 37 years of extensive experience in government administration. Her educational background includes degrees in Economics and Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics, along with training in public finance management in Washington.
During her career, Sudan has held several key positions, including serving as the Union Health Secretary from 2017 to 2020. She played a pivotal role in strategizing India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her previous roles also include Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, and key positions within the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Defence, Finance, and Planning.
Additionally, Sudan has been a consultant with the World Bank and held significant international roles, such as Chair of the COP-8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Vice Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Chair of the Global Digital Health Partnership, and a member of the WHO’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
