Educationist Dr. Manoj Soni, a former Vice-Chancellor of two universities in Gujarat, took oath as the chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on May 16. He was already serving as the Chairman in-charge since April 2022.
He replaced Pradeep Kumar Joshi after joining the UPSC as a member in June 2017.
A monk of the Anoopam Mission, a branch of the Swaminarayan movement, Dr Soni holds the record of being the youngest vice-chancellor ever in independent India. He is an expert in International Relations and Political Science. He holds a doctorate degree from Sardar Patel University.
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Dr. Soni studied Political Science with specialization in International Relations Studies and earned a Doctorate degree in ‘Post-Cold War International Systemic Transition and Indo-US Relations’ from Sardar Patel University.
He served as Vice-Chancellor of MS University of Baroda (one term) and as Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Gujarat for two terms.
Dr Soni has earned several recognitions and awards and has significant publications to his credit.
Born on 17 February, 1965 in Mumbai, Dr Soni’s had to take up his family’s responsibilities young as he lost his father when he was in the 5th standard. The family struggled on the streets of Mumbai. He started selling incense sticks to raise money for his own education apart from the maintenance of the family.
In 1978, they moved from Mumbai to Anand in Gujarat, where he failed in class 12 science examination. After this, he opted for Arts in Raj Ratna PT Patel College. He studied International Relations.
Dr. Soni completed his doctoral studies in 1995 and did his research on “Post-Cold War International Systemic Transition and Indo-US Relations”. He has even authored a book, “Understanding the Global Political Earthquake”.
He taught International Relations between 1991 and 2016 at Sardar Patel University (SPU), Vallabh Vidyanagar and served as vice-chancellor of MSU, Vadodara between 2005 and 2008, and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) in Ahmedabad between August 2009 and July 2015.
As the 40-year-old VC of Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, he created a record, being the youngest to serve that post.
Dr. Soni has also been associated with Swaminarayan Sampradaya Mission in Mogri of Anand district since childhood.
