Rajni Razdan today took over as new chairman of Union Public Service Commission, which conducts the prestigious civil services examination to select IAS, IFS and IPS officers among others.

Razdan was administered the oath as UPSC chief by the outgoing chairperson D P Agrawal, whose tenure ended today. Her new charge comes at a time when the Commission is facing a controversy due to the demand for change in the pattern of the examination from a section of aspirants. The civil services preliminary examination is scheduled to be held on August 24.

She had joined as UPSC member on April 19, 2010. 64-year-old Razdan, a former IAS officer of Haryana cadre, had retired as Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances. During her tenure as IAS officer, she had 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.