Gyanesh Kumar Appointed As 26th Chief Election Commissioner Of India

Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, following the conclusion of Rajiv Kumar’s term on February 18. His appointment is the first under the new law for selecting election commissioners.

The announcement came after a meeting of the Election Committee, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

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Gyanesh Kumar’s Career Highlights

Kumar, who has served as Election Commissioner since March 2022, is a senior bureaucrat with vast experience in key government roles. A 1988-batch Kerala cadre officer, he previously held positions as Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Cooperation. Kumar also played a significant role in the establishment of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust and was involved in overseeing the Jammu and Kashmir desk at the Ministry of Home Affairs when Article 370 was abrogated in 2019.

First CEC Appointment Under New Election Commissioners' Selection Law

He is the first CEC appointed under the new law, which replaced the Chief Justice with the Home Minister in the selection panel for the Chief Election Commissioner’s role.

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Before his tenure at the Election Commission, Kumar held various positions, including Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation. He also served in key administrative roles in Kerala, including as District Collector of Ernakulam and Municipal Commissioner of Cochin.

Kumar’s term as Chief Election Commissioner will conclude on January 26, 2029.