The Ministry of Education has appointed Vineet Joshi, currently serving as Higher Education Secretary, as the interim Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC). He takes over from Professor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, who retired on April 7. Joshi will hold this additional charge until a permanent successor is named.
Academic and Professional Background
- Alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BTech in Mechanical Engineering)
- MBA (Gold Medallist) and PhD in Quality Management from IIFT, New Delhi
- Former Director General of NTA (2019–2020)
- Noted for overseeing NEET, JEE Main, and UGC NET during his NTA tenure
About His Predecessor: Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar
Professor Kumar, who held the UGC post since February 2022, spearheaded several transformative initiatives in higher education:
- Introduced CUET for UG and PG admissions
- Implemented reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
- Focused on structural changes in the university system
Significance of the Appointment
Vineet Joshi’s interim appointment is seen as a continuation of his extensive work in shaping both school and higher education sectors. His blend of technical, administrative, and policy experience is expected to maintain momentum in ongoing educational reforms.
