In a first for India’s premier civil services body, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman Ajay Kumar will directly engage with civil service aspirants through a live virtual town hall on October 1.

The one-hour session, to be broadcast on DD News’ YouTube channel from 12 noon to 1 pm, marks a landmark effort to foster transparency and dialogue between the Commission and candidates.

“Excited to host the first-ever UPSC Virtual Town Hall! Aspirants across India can engage with me directly on 1 Oct 2025, 12–1 PM, live on DD News YouTube,” Kumar shared on LinkedIn. Aspirants and stakeholders can submit questions in advance via email at interactwithupsc@gmail.com between September 28 and 30, until 10 am. Questions may be sent in either text or video format.

During the live event, participants will also have the opportunity to pose questions in real time through social media platforms including X, Facebook, and Instagram using the official hashtag #AskChairmanUPSC. “This is a unique opportunity for UPSC and PSC aspirants to engage with the Chairman and hear his insights on the examination process,” Kumar added.

The virtual town hall coincides with UPSC’s centenary celebrations. Established on October 1, 1926, under the Government of India Act, 1919, the Commission initially operated as the Public Service Commission, later renamed the Federal Public Service Commission in 1937, and finally became the UPSC under the Indian Constitution in 1950.

To commemorate 100 years of service, UPSC will host a year-long centenary celebration from October 1, 2025, to October 1, 2026. A key highlight of the celebrations is the launch of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) to act as a central repository of best practices for both UPSC and State Public Service Commissions (PSCs), aiming to strengthen recruitment processes nationwide.