Who is IAS Saurabh Katiyar? Maharashtra Public Service Commission gets new Secretary amid paper leak row

IAS Saurabh Katiyar, a Mumbai Suburban Collector, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) amid a paper leak controversy. This appointment occurred on Wednesday, following the transfer of the previous MPSC Secretary, Mahendra Harpalkar, due to examination irregularities allegations.

The MPSC's chairman, Vivek Bhimanwar, also went on compulsory leave pending an inquiry. The state government justified the move as administrative reasons, stating Katiyar will hold the additional charge of Secretary until further notice. The appointment comes in the wake of an 11-day protest by aspirants in Pune, who demanded action against alleged paper leak and Bhimanwar's resignation.

The Maharashtra government initiated a judicial inquiry and a committee led by Justice Dilip Bhosale to investigate the paper leak case. Katiyar, a 2016 batch IAS officer from Maharashtra cadre, previously served as the Mumbai Suburban Collector and Collector of Amravati. He is known for his AI-powered skill census initiative, which received global acclaim and was used as a case study at Northwestern University.

Katiyar's innovative approach to skill development and healthcare has earned him recognition and praise for significantly reducing infant mortality and maternal mortality rates in Maharashtra.