New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has appointed Anurag Kumar, Advocate, Supreme Court of India, as its panel counsel, according to an order issued by the commission on September 28, 2026.
Under the appointment, Kumar will represent the UPSC in matters before the Supreme Court, Jharkhand High Court and the Ranchi Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
Appointment Valid Until September 30, 2027
According to the UPSC order, Kumar’s tenure as panel counsel will be for one year or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Under the current order, the appointment will remain effective until September 30, 2027.
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The appointment has been made in accordance with the terms and conditions communicated by the UPSC in its letter dated June 17, 2026, which were accepted by Kumar.
As panel counsel, Kumar will represent the commission in judicial proceedings involving UPSC before the courts and tribunal covered by the appointment.
Anurag Kumar: Legal Background
Anurag Kumar is a seventh-generation lawyer who joined the Bar in 1999 and has practised before the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts. His legal practice has covered constitutional, corporate, criminal, civil, family and labour law matters.
Kumar has served as Assistant Solicitor General of India for the Jharkhand High Court in 2014. He has also worked as Central Government Counsel, Government of India, since January 2010, and as Special Counsel for Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, since May 2009.
Earlier, he served as an Advocate Counsel and Consultant with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Ministry of Home Affairs, from 1999 to 2003. During that period, he dealt with more than 7,000 NHRC cases, according to his professional profile.
Kumar has also worked directly with two former Chief Justices of India who subsequently served as Chairpersons of the National Human Rights Commission. His legal work has included matters concerning human rights violations as well as cases across different areas of law.
Earlier Served as CJI Adviser and ASGI
Anurag Kumar is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and has previously served as Adviser to the former Chief Justice of India and as Assistant Solicitor General of India (ASGI).
His appointment as UPSC panel counsel now assigns him to represent the commission in cases before the Supreme Court, Jharkhand High Court and the Ranchi CAT Bench.
UPSC Order Issued by Under Secretary
The appointment order was issued by Ishwar Dutt Kashyap, Under Secretary (NLS), UPSC, and was circulated to the concerned authorities.
The communication was also sent to officials and departments including the Department of Legal Affairs and relevant UPSC offices in connection with the appointment.
