The experiment of inducting former army officers in public service commission has paid off well in Rajasthan. The state has two retired army officers – Major General Alok Raj and Lt Colonel Kesari Singh Rathore – Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB) and Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) respectively. While Raj is the chairman of RSSB, Rathore is a member of RPSC. This has perhaps opened doors for former armed forces officers in government recruitment bodies.
The tenure of Major General Alok Raj had been quiet so far. Not much controversy has erupted at a time when cases of paper leaks and candidate impersonations are rampant across the country.
At the same time, the performance of Rathore has also been impressive. The image of RPSC has improved. It seems the ghosts of paper leaks have left the corridors of this recruitment body with the likes of member Babu Lal Katara imprisoned for paper leak and few others exiting the commission.
According to sources in RPSC, Rathore has chaired 666 interview boards so far – highest in the commission. Ayub Khan has chaired 519 boards while KC Meena has take up 376 boards.
It is pertinent that Lt. Col. Rathore is the senior most member after chairman UR Sahoo. Rathore KC Meena and Ayub Khan – all three had joined together on October 9, 2023.
Other three members – Sushil Kumar Bissu, Ashok Kumar Kalwar and Hemant Priyadarshy – had joined on September 24, 2025. Bissu has taken up 248 boards while Kalwar and Priyadarshy have chaired 254 and 232 boards respectively.
Who will be the next chairman RPSC?
The chairman of RPSC UR Sahoo is retiring this month. Sources say that he will be replaced by another senior IPS officer or an IAS officer who had been Home Secretary for quite some years.
However, the state government may also keep the post vacant for sometime for bigger adjustment. In that case the commission may get an interim chairman from among the members.
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