President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday appointed Professor David R. Syiemlieh as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). “The President has appointed Syiemlieh to perform the duties of the post of Chairman, Union Public Service Commission,” a statement said here.
Syiemlieh is from Meghalaya and was a UPSC member. The 63-year-old Syiemlieh will assume charge on January 4 and retire on January 21, 2018. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As per reports, Syiemlieh was functioning as a UPSC member from June 25, 2012. Syiemlieh has succeeded Alka Sirohi, a retired IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.
A post graduate in history from the North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, he held various academic positions in the same varsity, including head of the history department and that of the pro-vice chancellor.
Syiemlieh, is also a former vice chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University in Arunachal Pradesh. He has also authored several books on the history of North East region.