Lt General Raj Shukla UPSC Member: Profile - Key things to know

Former Army training command chief Lieutenant General Raj Shukla (retired) was on Monday appointed as member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), that conducts the civil services exam to recruit the country's civil servants.

Who is Lt General Raj Shukla?

An alumni of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and the National Defence College, New Delhi, the general officer has served two tenures at the military operations directorate dealing with doctrines/force structuring and was the director general, perspective planning, addressing issues relating to military futures and force modernisation.

He has also been commandant of the Army's prestigious training establishment and think tank -- the Army War College.

Lt General Raj Shukla: Achievements

In recognition of his service of the most exceptional order, Shukla was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on Republic Day 2021.

A professional aviator and powerful orator, Shukla has authored close to 70 articles/publications and lectured/participated in more than 180 talks/seminars in India and abroad.

As the 22nd General Officer Commanding-In-Chief of the Indian Army's Training Command (ARTRAC), the officer made noteworthy contributions to the development of India's strategic -- military futures, technological innovation, professional military education, capacity building, operational poise and civil -- military fusion.

In a career spanning over four decades in the Army, Shukla commanded an Infantry Brigade in counter-insurgency operations, the Baramulla Division along the Line of Control in the Kashmir valley and a Pivot Corps along the western borders.

With his appointment, the commission now has a chairperson and six members against its sanctioned strength of 10.