Pune: Did IAS Puja Khedkar Exceed UPSC Attempt Limits by Changing Names? Read Here
Centre discharges Puja Khedkar from Indian Administrative Service with immediate effect
IAS Officer Dr. Puja Khedkar Under Scrutiny for Alleged Misuse of Authority and Name Changes in UPSC Exams
Maharashtra cadre IAS officer Dr. Puja Khedkar is at the center of a political and administrative storm following her transfer due to alleged misuse of authority in the Pune Collector office.
In addition to these allegations, a new controversy has emerged. According to a report by Sakal, Khedkar allegedly exceeded the permissible number of attempts for the UPSC Civil Services exam by changing her name. The report states that she continued to take the exam after exhausting the allowed attempts.
Khedkar reportedly appeared for the exam in 2020-21 under the name Khedkar Puja Diliprao. In 2021-22, she allegedly changed her name to Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar and took the exam twice more, even after exhausting the permitted attempts.
Her OBC and disability certificates are also under scrutiny. The Centre has established a single-member committee to verify the candidature of the 2023-batch IAS officer.
Additionally, Khedkar is under intense scrutiny for allegedly manipulating benefits under the physical disabilities category and OBC quota to secure her position in the elite civil service.
