UPSC BOARD MEMBER'S PROFILE UPDATED

1. Professor D. P. AGRAWAL (Chairman)

Professor D.P. Agrawal is a Member, Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi. Before joining this prestigious position Professor D P Agrawal was founder Director of ABV Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management (IIITM), Gwalior. IIITM was set up by Ministry of Human Resource Development in 1998 and declared by Government of India, in 2001 as a Deemed University. IIITM is a unique apex institution for producing leadership manpower in information technology and management and offers PhD, MBA, M Tech courses. The institute has already created a niche for itself in industries in India and abroad. The institute has been offering a  large number of MDPs for executives from industry, government and the corporate sector.  The institute also offers consultancy to a number of industries.

Under his leadership IIITM, has entered into MOUs with Institutions/Universities in the USA and Spain for joint collaboration in the areas of research,  exchange programmes for faculty and students, and consultancy to companies in India and abroad. Many initiatives started by him at IIITM, Gwalior have been replicated in the country.

Professor Agrawal has been an eminent teacher, educational administrator and institution builder. He was Professor and Dean at IIT- Delhi from where, in 1994, he took over as Joint Educational Adviser (T) in the Ministry of HRD, Government of India. He has planned and developed a number of initiatives at national level in technical education, particularly in the areas of information technology and computer education. He has made substantial contribution for the development of vocational education through advice and guidance.

Professor Agrawal was National Project Director of  the World Bank assisted project for strengthening technician education in India. This project covered 19 States and 590 polytechnics. He has contributed to the development of Centres for Excellence in higher technical and in polytechnic education. He was instrumental in conceptualizing a number of new institutions.

Professor Agrawal was Managing Director of Educational Consultants India Ltd. (Ed.CIL), a PSU of Government of India. He brought about major changes in work culture of this organisation, including decentralized decision making and transferring functional responsibilities to lower executives. At IIT Delhi, Professor Agrawal held many key administrative positions including Dean of students. He was very active in academics and research too and supervised nearly 100 thesis at PhD, Masters and Undergraduate levels. He has been  a consultant to a number of companies. 

He has been a member of Editorial Boards of National and International journals. He attracted research funds to IIT, Delhi for his projects from Defence, DST and CSIR. His research papers have received awards from Institutes of Engineers. In addition to being  a member of a number of governing  bodies of institutions, Professor Agrawal is a member of a number of professional institutions and societies. Professor Agrawal has contributed significantly to the growth of quality technical education in the country through his close interaction with AICTE. He has  been Chairman of Central Regional Committee of AICTE. Currently he is the Chairman of PG Board of AICTE.

Professor Agrawal was born on 2nd October, 1949. After graduating in Engineering in 1970 from AMU Aligarh, he obtained his Ph.D from IIT, Delhi. He has been a visiting faculty at Imperial College, London and Cranfield University in UK. He has lectured in Germany and Czechoslovakia. He has led a number of delegations of the Government of India to the USA, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and Canada.

Prof. Agrawal was christened as ‘Engineer of the Year 2006’ by the Institution of Engineers. Hon. Fellowship Award was conferred by Indian Society for Technical Education on 14th December, 2006.

2. Dr. VENKATARAMI REDDY Y

The former Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission Y. Venkatrami Reddy, has been appointed as a New Member of Union Public Service Commission.

Prof. Reddy, who served as Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission between 2005 to 2011. He  was Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh hails from Kamalapuram village in Garladinne mandal of Anantapur district. He is Engineer by profession obtained his BE electrical engineering from the Government of College of Engineering, Anantapur, and M.E. degree from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.

He did his Ph.D from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and joined as a lecturer at the JNTU College of Engineering in 1975.He was the youngest Vice-Chancellor to be appointed in JNTU's history in 1999 and continued in the position for six and half years till 2004.

Prof. Reddy was also the Chairman of Engineering, Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test, AP (EAMCET) for a record six years from 1999 to 2004. The JNTU expanded enormously in terms of size, staff and academics during his tenure.

  

3. Prof. PURUSHOTTAM AGRAWAL

(b. 1955 at Gwalior, India), Graduation (1974 - Maharani Laxmi Bai College, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), MA (Political Science, 1977 - Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), MA (Hindi Literature, 1979 - Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi), Ph.D (Hindi Literature, 1985, ‘The Social Meaning of Kabir’s Bhakti’; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi).

Formerly Chairperson, Center of Indian Languages, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Chief Advisor, Hindi Textbooks (classes VI-XII), NCERT, New Delhi (2005-07), Prof. Agrawal taught at Ramjas  College, University of Delhi (1982-90), edited and published “Jigyasa”, an inter-disciplinary academic journal (1983-84),  served as Associate Professor, Center of Indian Languages, JNU (1990-2003). Professor of Hindi Literature, Center of Indian Languages, School of Languages, Literature and Culture Studies (SLLCS), JNU (2003-07).

He served as British Academy Visiting Professor at Faculty of Oriental Studies, Cambridge University and as Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge  University, United Kingdom in 2002. Conducted two seminars on the “Identity discourses in the current Indian politics” at the Center of South Asian Studies, UPSC Cambridge University. Also served as Visiting Professor at El Colegio de Mexico (National College of Mexico, Mexico City) during May-July 2002. Conducted  four seminars on the themes of culture and history of Indian people. In Nov.-Dec.2004, during an  academic tour of the United States of America, Prof. Agrawal lectured at the Columbia University, New York; Emory University, Atlanta; Rice University, Houston. The Halle Institute of the Emory University organized a luncheon meeting in his honor, where he spoke on the post-election political scene in India.

Prof. Agrawal won Devi Shankar Awasthy Samman for “Teesra Rukh”, 1996, and Mukutdhar Pandey Samman for “Sanskriti: Varchswa aur Pratiroadh”, 1997. Some of the books written by Prof. Agrawal are Kabir:Sakhi aur Sabad (A collection  of Kabir’s poetry with an analytical introduction), Shivdan Singh Chauhan (A monograph in “Makers of Indian Literature” series published by Sahitya Akademi, Delhi), Majbooti Ka Naam Mahtma Gandhi (published version of annual Gandhi Lecture, organized by Gandhi Peace Foundation, Delhi), Nij Brahma Vichhar:Dharma Samaj aur Dharmetar Adhyatma (Essays on religion, spirituality and philosophy), Vichaar ka Ananta (a collection of theoretical and cultural essays), Teesra Rukh (A collection of literary and cultural essays), Sanskriti: Varchswa aur Pratiroadh (a collection of cultural and political essays) Hindi Nai chaal mein Dhali( edited  proceedings of the international symposium organized in Patna, India on the evolution of modern Hindi)

Prof. Agrawal contributes regularly to academic journals and popular magazines on wide-ranging issues of culture, literature and current affairs. Numerous articles both in Hindi and English have been published in academic journals, popular magazines and newspapers over the last twenty-five years. He has reviewed several books in English and Hindi for Seminar, Studies in History, The Book Review, Biblio, Alochana, Hans, Kathadesh, Vasudha etc.

Prof. Agrawal served as Member in several Board of Studies; Academic, Research and Governing Council of important Universities of the Country. In many international conferences and academic events, he delivered various keynote address, presented papers, delivered lectures, spoke on important themes besides organizing an international conference on ‘Evolution of Hindi’. An active social activist and consultant, Prof. Agrawal served as Chief Advisor (2003-06) of the ‘Peaceful co-existence in South Asia’ project of the Aman Trust, Delhi. As a consultant to Oxfam, India (1998-2002), he had organized inter-faces of scholars, creative artists and social activists as part of the Violence Amelioration and Mitigation Project (VMAP). Of particular value have been  the interfaces between Kabir-panthis and the scholars of  Kabir, and conferences on the question of social identities and a dialogue on Spirituality without Religion. His writings have been included in a course ‘Public intellectuals  of India’ offered by the College of Mexico, Mexico City. Member, Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi since July 2, 2007.

4.  Shri I M G Khan 

Shri I.M.G Khan former Secretary (Posts), Department of Posts, is an officer of the Indian Postal Service belonging to the 1970 batch, Shri I.M.G Khan held  several important positions in his career, which includes, Member (Operations & Marketing) and Member (Development) in the Department of Posts, Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training and Additional Secretary and Controller or Examinations in the UPSC.

He also served as Member Secretary, Civil Services Examination Reforms Committee headed by Professor Y.K. Alagh in UPSC. Shri Khan was also a Member of UPSC delegation that visited Australia and Singapore to study their Public Service Commissions.

 5. Shri Prashanta Kumar Mishra

Prashanta Kumar Mishra, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, is a  1972 batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) Officer of UP Cadre. In his career spanning over 36 years has held several important assignments both in the state of UP and in the centre. His assignments at the Centre included Director General of Nehra Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Special Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary.

6. Shri Vijay Singh 

Former Defence Secretary Vijay Singh is an Indian Administrative Service Officer of the Madhya Pradesh Cadre (1970), Singh held several important assignments both in Madhya Pradesh and at the Centre during his 37 year career.

His assignments at the Centre included Director in the Department of Cultural Affairs, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Finance. He became Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh in October, 2004 and served there till January 2006. Thereafter, he served as Secretary to Government of India in the Department of AYUSH and later in the Department of Road Transport and Highways, till becoming Defence Secretary in August, 2007. (ANI)

7. Ms Rajni Razdan

Ms Rajni Razdan, former Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India, took the oath of office and secrecy as Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Haryana Cadre (1973 batch), Ms Razdan has held several important assignments both in Haryana and at the Centre.

Her assignments at the Centre included Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Food and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions. In her home cadre, her assignments included Secretary, Cooperation and Public Health, Principal Secretary, Housing and Chairman, Haryana Housing Board.

Author of a number of publication, she became Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Pension & Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances in February 2007.

  8. Smt. Alka Sirohi

Smt. Sirohi is a post graduate in history and is well versed both in English and French. Beginning her career as an assistant collector of Gwalior way back in 1975, she later became collector in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh. As a deputy secretary in the ministry of defence, she had her first stint in Central deputation between 1983 and 1986, and later became principal advisor in the Planning Commission and secretary in department of food and public distribution under ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution.

In her state cadre, Sirohi held important assignments in the departments of agriculture cooperation, women and child development and health and family welfare. In 1988, she obtained a management degree from UK.She is a third generation IAS and her younger sister too is an IAS of UP cadre whereas her brother is a railway officer.

An IAS officer of 1974 batch of Madhya Pradesh Cadre, she served as Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training, M/o Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Secretary. A post graduate in Western History, Smt. Sirohi is trained in management and issues related to sustainable development.

9. David Reid Syiemlieh

David Reid Syiemlieh is as Indian academician. He was born on 22 January 1953 in Mutrapore, Sibsagar, Assam. He studied in Dr Graham's Homes, Kalimpong (1959–1970) and graduated with history honours from St.Edmund's College, Shillong. This was followed with a Masters degree in History (1976), MPhil(1980) and PhD (1985) from the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. He taught undergraduates in St. Edmund's College (1977–1979) before joining the Department of History, NEHU, in 1979. He rose in the profession to become Professor in the Department of History. He held numerous positions in the University, including Dean of Students' Welfare; Head Department of History; Controller of Examinations; Registrar and Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Author of several books and articles on the history of North East India, he is credited with discovering the date of death of Tirot Sing and locating the grave of Thomas Jones, the Welsh missionary who first arrived in the Khasi Hills. David R Syiemlieh was Honorary Director of the Indian Council for Social Science Research, North Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong ;Member of the Indian Council for Historical Research,New Delhi and Member, Indian Council for Social Science Research,New Delhi.The President of India in her capacity as Visitor, Rajiv Gandhi University,Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, appointed Prof. David R Syiemlieh as Vice-Chancellor of the University. He took charge on 5 October 2011.

He is recipient of the Charles Wallace Grant for research in the UK; India France Cultural Exchange for research in Paris, and the Senior Fulbright Fellowship for research in the US. He was affiliated to Notre Dame University.

Prof.Syiemlieh was President of the North East India History Association (2010–2011).As Sectional President- Modern India Section of the Indian History Congress , he delivered his address at the 78th session held in Mumbai, 2012.

Prof. David R Syiemlieh was appointed by the President of India as Member, Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi

10. Shri Manbir Singh

Shri Manbir Singh, Former Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, An officer of Indian Foreign Service of 1976 batch, Shri Manbir Singh has held several important positions which incudes Counselor (Commerce & Economics) in former USSR and later the Russian Republic, Minister at the Embassy of India in the United Arab Emirates, Chief of Protocol at Headquarters, New Delhi, Ambassador of India in the countries of Hungry, Iran and Netherlands. 

Shri Singh has also served as India’s representative to ‘Convention on Prevention of Chemical Weapons’ and the ‘International Court of Justice’

11. Shri Amar Pratap Singh

An officer of Indian Police Service of 1974 batch, Shri Amar Pratap Singh held several important positions earlier which include Inspector General (Special Branch & CID), Meghalaya State, Chief Vigilance Officer, Indian Airlines, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Additional Director General (Hqrs), Border Security Force, Special Director, CBI. 

Shri Singh served as Superintendent of Police of Katihar, Bhagalpur & Jamshedpur. He served as IGP Special Branch & CID in Meghalaya while on North-East deputation. He also served as Chief Vigilance Officer in Indian Airlines.  He was specially selected by the Chief Minister of Jharkhand as Officer on Special Duty to function as Advisor to Chief Minister in his secretariat. He served as Additional Director General in the Border Security Force.

Shri Singh, a Post Graduate of Delhi University, has been decorated with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.