Manoj Soni has recently taken over as chairman of UPSC, an apex recruitment agency responsible for central government services. He joined UPSC as a member in 2022 before taking the reins as chairman in April 2023.
PM Modi took notice and appointed him Vice Chancellor (VC) of Vadodara’s MS University in 2005, making him one of the youngest ever VCs nationwide. Additionally, he served on several higher education and public administration institutions’ boards of trustees.
Life and Career
Dr Manoj Soni has had an extraordinary academic career. Between 1991 and 2016, he taught international relations at Sardar Patel University (SPU), Vallabh Vidyanagar; aside from serving as Vice Chancellor (VC) of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Additionally, he is an accomplished political science scholar renowned for publishing several books and earning multiple recognitions and awards in his lifetime.
Born 17 February 1965, his life story is one of resilience and perseverance. Following his father’s death in 1978, he moved from Anand to Mumbai in search of education despite not passing Class 10. At Raj Ratna PT Patel College he studied Arts before specialising in Political Science (with an emphasis in International Relations).
In April 2022, he was appointed Chairman of UPSC to replace Pradip Kumar Joshi and will hold this position until May 2023. A strong supporter of Save India campaigns, especially those within Gujarat state. A Nishkam Karmayogi of Swaminarayan sect’s Anoopam Mission who dedicates much of his time and efforts towards socio-religious activities.
Transparency and Integrity
UPSC and its chairman play an integral part in maintaining public trust in civil services examinations, with their selection process upholding integrity and fairness to meet the highest professional standards.
Soni, who holds a doctorate in political science with a dissertation entitled ‘Post-Cold War International Systemic Transition and Indo-US Relations”, is well known within academia. For nearly two decades at Sardar Patel University Vallabh Vidyanagar he studied and taught international relations; moreover he served as vice-chancellor of three universities including one term at Vadodara’s MS University and two terms at Ahmedabad’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (ABOU).
His life story is one of resilience and determination. From selling incense sticks in Mumbai’s Bhuleshwar area after the death of his father as a child to becoming the country’s youngest vice-chancellor at MS University at 40 in 2005 – including receiving numerous awards such as World Education Congress Global Award for Distance Learning Leadership – as well as becoming a renowned author by penning a book – his journey is truly inspirational.
Technology Integration
The Union Public Service Commission is the premier central recruiting body that organizes civil services examinations for Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service and Indian Police Service among others. Led by its chairman and with up to ten members.
Dr Manoj Soni is an esteemed scholar in Political Science specializing in International Relations Studies who has earned several accolades during his distinguished career. He has taught at universities throughout India and overseas and served as Vice Chancellor of two universities in Gujarat: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) and Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSUB).
Sir Jagannath Shah is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom appointed him VC of Vadodara’s MS University at age 40, making him the youngest ever VC in India. Additionally, he serves as member of various higher education and public administration institutions’ boards of trustees.
Soni reportedly submitted his resignation in April 2020 in order to devote more time and attention to Anoopam Mission, a branch of Swaminarayan Sect in Gujarat where he received monastic initiation in 2022 and became known as Niskam Karmayogi or Niskam Karmayogi monk or Nishkam Karmayogi monk or Niskam Karmayogi monk or Niskam Karmayogi monk or Niskam Karmayogi monk or monk or Nishkam Karmayogi monk or monk or monk or Niskam Karmayogi monk or Nishkam Karmayogi monk or Karmayogi monk or whether his resignation is accepted or relieved or not by government officials or whether or not.
Inclusivity
The UPSC is an indispensable element of India’s governance system, with Manoj Soni leading with renewed energy and vision to uphold public trust in this institution.
As an educationist, Soni understands the unique challenges faced by UPSC aspirants. His dedication to inclusivity is helping make civil services examination more accessible to a broader range of candidates while modernization and incorporation of technology help enhance exam quality.
Soni studied Political Science with an emphasis in International Relation Studies at Sardar Patel University and earned his doctorate on ‘Post-Cold War International Systemic Transition and Indo-US Relations.’ Since 2005 he has held three terms as Vice-Chancellor at two universities in Gujarat; Prime Minister Narendra Modi picked him as Vice-Chancellor for Vadodara MS University making him the youngest ever V-C ever! Soni is also active member of Swaminarayan sect and acts as monk (nishkam Karmayogi) at Anoopam Mission; World Education Congress Global Award for Distance Learning Leadership award.
Continuous Improvement
Soni is an advocate for continuous improvement. He strongly believes that technology integration and making the examination process more inclusive are vitally important components of keeping civil services an accessible means for selecting nation leaders.
He is committed to maintaining public confidence in the civil services, which serve as the cornerstone of government in many ways. This commitment is especially critical given recent cases in which candidates attempted to take exams beyond their eligibility.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met recently with UPSC Chairman Manoj Soni to discuss strengthening TSPSC and ensuring its recruitment process is free of corruption. This meeting provided a learning opportunity for State government, as it also served to showcase best recruitment practices while signaling Telangana government commitment to upholding high standards of integrity and transparency within civil services.
I’m Pradeep Ahalawat, the founder and chief writer of this blog. (Holding the degree of M.Sc. IT with more than 15 years of expereince in IT sector) With a passion for storytelling and a keen interest in current affairs, I started this platform to share my perspectives.