List of UPSC Chairman from 1926 to 2026: First Chairman, First Indian Chairman and First Woman Chairman

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s premier constitutional body responsible for conducting examinations and undertaking recruitment for various services and posts under the Union Government. Its institutional history dates back to 1 October 1926, when the first Public Service Commission was established in British India.

Over the last hundred years, the Commission has undergone several changes in its name, structure and constitutional status. It was initially known as the Public Service Commission, became the Federal Public Service Commission in 1937 and acquired its present identity as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 26 January 1950, when the Constitution of India came into force.

Since its establishment in 1926, the Commission has been headed by several distinguished individuals. Sir Ross Barker was its first Chairman, while H. K. Kripalani became the first Indian to head the Commission in 1947. Rose Millian Bathew (Kharbuli) became the first woman Chairperson in 1992.

This article provides the complete chronological list of Chairpersons of the Public Service Commission, Federal Public Service Commission and Union Public Service Commission from 1926 to 2026, along with their tenures and important historical facts.

Note: One important distinction is essential for historical accuracy: the Commission established in 1926 was initially the Public Service Commission; it became the Federal Public Service Commission in 1937, and the Union Public Service Commission on 26 January 1950. Therefore, the 1926–1950 entries should not all be labelled “UPSC Chairmen” retrospectively.

Also Read in detail: About UPSC – Union Public Service Commission

Chairpersons of the Public Service Commission and Federal Public Service Commission (1926–1950)

The first Public Service Commission was established on 1 October 1926. Following the Government of India Act, 1935, it became the Federal Public Service Commission with effect from 1 April 1937. The following individuals headed the Commission during this period:

The following table provides the chronological list of individuals who headed the Public Service Commission and its subsequent institutional forms between 1926 and 2026. The first four Chairpersons served before Independence, while H. K. Kripalani became the first Indian Chairman in 1947.

Chairpersons of the Union Public Service Commission (1950–2026)

After the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, the Federal Public Service Commission became the Union Public Service Commission. R. N. Banerjee, who had assumed office in January 1949, continued as Chairman of the Commission after it acquired its present constitutional identity.

Note: The tenure dates above follow the commonly published chronological record. Some historical entries are available only to the month or year, rather than an exact day. The transition dates for certain successive Chairpersons may also appear on the same date in published lists. Dr. Ajay Kumar assumed charge on 15 May 2025, as confirmed by the Press Information Bureau. His scheduled date of retirement as Chairman is 1 October 2027, subject to the applicable constitutional provisions.

Who Was the First Chairman of the Public Service Commission in India?

Sir Ross Barker was the first Chairman of the Public Service Commission in India. He assumed office on 1 October 1926, when the first Public Service Commission was established during British rule.

The establishment of the Commission followed the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Superior Civil Services in India, popularly known as the Lee Commission. The Lee Commission was appointed in 1923 under the chairmanship of Lord Lee of Fareham and submitted its report in 1924. It recommended the establishment of a Public Service Commission to improve the recruitment and administration of civil services in India.

The first Commission was established as an advisory body. It initially consisted of a Chairman and four members, and its role was considerably more limited than that of the present constitutional UPSC.

Sir Ross Barker headed the Commission from October 1926 to August 1932. His tenure marked the beginning of the institutional history that eventually led to the formation of the present Union Public Service Commission.

Important facts:

• First Chairman: Sir Ross Barker
• Establishment of the first Public Service Commission: 1 October 1926
• First Chairman’s tenure: October 1926 – August 1932
• Nature of the initial Commission: Advisory body

Who Was the First Indian to head the Public Service Commission of India?

H. K. Kripalani was the first Indian to head the Public Service Commission. He assumed office on 1 April 1947, when the institution was known as the Federal Public Service Commission, and served until 13 January 1949.

His appointment was an important milestone in the history of the Commission because the institution had previously been headed by British officials. Kripalani was the first Indian to occupy the position of Chairman.

There is, however, an important historical distinction when using the expression “first Indian UPSC Chairman”. H. K. Kripalani became Chairman in 1947, before the Constitution came into force and before the Federal Public Service Commission formally became the Union Public Service Commission. Therefore, he is correctly described as the first Indian Chairman of the Commission.

R. N. Banerjee, who succeeded Kripalani on 14 January 1949, was serving as Chairman when the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. He therefore became the first Chairman of the Commission in its present constitutional form as the Union Public Service Commission. He continued in office until 9 May 1955.

For factual clarity:

• First Indian to head the Commission: H. K. Kripalani (1947).
• Chairman when the Commission became the UPSC on 26 January 1950: R. N. Banerjee.

Who Was the First Woman UPSC Chairperson?

Rose Millian Bathew (Kharbuli) was the first woman Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission. She assumed office on 23 September 1992 and served until 23 August 1996.

Her appointment in 1992 was a significant milestone in the history of the Commission, marking the first time a woman headed the institution. She is recognised as the first woman to serve as Chairperson of the UPSC.

Other women who subsequently headed the Commission include Rajni Razdan, Alka Sirohi and Preeti Sudan.

Important facts:

• First woman UPSC Chairperson: Rose Millian Bathew (Kharbuli).
• Assumed office: 23 September 1992.
• End of tenure: 23 August 1996.

Current UPSC Chairman and Members in 2026

Dr. Ajay Kumar is the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission as of November 2026. He assumed charge on 15 May 2025 after taking the oath of office and secrecy. He is a retired 1985-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre and previously served as Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.

Dr. Ajay Kumar studied Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. He also holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics and a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, USA.

The Commission’s membership, as reflected in the Government of India’s 2026 centenary backgrounder, consists of the Chairman and eight members.

List of Current UPSC Members (2026)

Three of the eight members are women: Suman Sharma, Sujata Chaturvedi and Anuradha Prasad. The composition and names above are reported in the Government of India’s UPSC centenary backgrounder published on 30 September 2026.

For the latest official information, including any subsequent appointments or changes in membership, refer to the official UPSC Commission page.

Important Facts about the History of UPSC

• 1926: The first Public Service Commission was established on 1 October 1926.
• First Chairman: Sir Ross Barker.
• 1935: The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for a Federal Public Service Commission.
• 1937: The Federal Public Service Commission came into operation on 1 April 1937.
• 1947: H. K. Kripalani became the first Indian Chairman of the Commission.
• 1950: The Federal Public Service Commission became the Union Public Service Commission on 26 January 1950.
• First woman Chairperson: Rose Millian Bathew (Kharbuli), who assumed office in 1992.
• 2026: The Commission completed 100 years of its institutional journey on 1 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who was the first Chairman of UPSC?

Sir Ross Barker was the first Chairman of the Public Service Commission established in India on 1 October 1926. Strictly speaking, the institution was not called the UPSC at that time; it acquired its present name on 26 January 1950.

2. Who was the first Indian Chairman of UPSC?

H. K. Kripalani was the first Indian to head the Commission. He became Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission on 1 April 1947. R. N. Banerjee was the Chairman when the institution became the UPSC in 1950.

3. Who was the first woman Chairman of UPSC?

Rose Millian Bathew (Kharbuli) was the first woman Chairperson of the UPSC. She served from 23 September 1992 to 23 August 1996.

4. Who is the current UPSC Chairman in 2026?

Dr. Ajay Kumar is the current UPSC Chairman as of November 2026. He assumed office on 15 May 2025.

5. How many Chairpersons have headed the Commission since 1926?

The chronological list contains 35 Chairpersons from the establishment of the first Public Service Commission in 1926 through the incumbent Chairman in 2026.

6. When did the Public Service Commission become the UPSC?

The Federal Public Service Commission became the Union Public Service Commission on 26 January 1950, when the Constitution of India came into force.

7. Who was the UPSC Chairman before Dr. Ajay Kumar?

Preeti Sudan was the immediate predecessor of Dr. Ajay Kumar. She assumed office on 1 August 2024 and served until 29 April 2025.

Sources and References

1. Union Public Service Commission – The Commission. Official information about the Chairman and members.
2. UPSC – About Us and Historical Perspective. Institutional history, constitutional provisions and functions.
3. Press Information Bureau – Union Public Service Commission: A Century of Meritocracy and Inclusion (30 September 2026).
4. Press Information Bureau – Dr. Ajay Kumar Assumes Charge as Chairman, UPSC (15 May 2025).

Last updated: November 2026.

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