- CEC is appointed by the President on the Selection Committee's recommendation.
- Gyanesh Kumar, 26th CEC, faces electoral roll controversy.
- Eligibility includes Secretary rank experience and election management knowledge.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is the head of the Election Commission of India (ECI), an autonomous body responsible for conducting elections in the country. Appointed by the President of India based on the recommendation of a Selection Committee, the CEC oversees the conduct of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President. The office is responsible for ensuring that elections are conducted fairly, that political parties and candidates follow electoral laws, and that malpractices are prevented.
Currently, Gyanesh Kumar is the Chief Election Commissioner of India. He is the 26th CEC and took office on February 19, 2025.
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How To Become CEC?
The Chief Election Commissioner is formally appointed by the President of India. Under the existing law, the CEC’s tenure is six years or until they attain the age of 65, whichever comes first. The eligibility criteria and appointment process are governed by the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act.
1. Candidates must hold or have previously held a post equivalent to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
2. They must have knowledge of and practical experience in the management and conduct of elections.
3. A Search Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary prepares a panel of eligible candidates. The panel is then considered by a Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
4. The Selection Committee recommends a candidate’s name to the President of India, who formally appoints the CEC.
How Many CECs Have Been Appointed So Far?
Since the establishment of the Election Commission of India in 1950, 26 Chief Election Commissioners have been appointed. Sukumar Sen was the first CEC of India and served from March 1950 to December 1958. V. S. Ramadevi, who served in 1990, remains the only woman to have held the position. Rajiv Kumar was the 25th CEC and served from May 15, 2022, to February 18, 2025.
Here is the complete list of Chief Election Commissioners and their tenures.
No. | Name | Tenure |
1. | Sukumar Sen | March 21, 1950 – December 19, 1958 |
2. | Kalyan Sundaram (K.V.K. Sundaram) | December 20, 1958 – September 30, 1967 |
3. | S. P. Sen Verma | October 1, 1967 – September 30, 1972 |
4. | Nagendra Singh | October 1, 1972 – February 6, 1973 |
5. | T. Swaminathan | February 7, 1973 – June 17, 1977 |
6. | S. L. Shakdhar | June 18, 1977 – June 17, 1982 |
7. | R. K. Trivedi | June 18, 1982 – December 31, 1985 |
8. | R. V. S. Peri Sastri | January 1, 1986 – November 25, 1990 |
9. | V. S. Ramadevi (First woman CEC) | November 26, 1990 – December 11, 1990 |
10. | T. N. Seshan | December 12, 1990 – December 11, 1996 |
11. | M. S. Gill | December 12, 1996 – June 13 June 2001 |
12. | J. M. Lyngdoh | June 14, 2001 – February 7, 2004 |
13. | T. S. Krishnamurthy | February 8, 2004 – May 15, 2005 |
14. | B. B. Tandon | May 16, 2005 – June 29, 2006 |
15. | N. Gopalaswami | June 30, 2006 – April 20, 2009 |
16. | Navin Chawla | April 21, 2009 – July 29, 2010 |
17. | S. Y. Quraishi | July 30, 2010 – June 10, 2012 |
18. | V. S. Sampath | June 11, 2012 – January 15, 2015 |
19. | Harishankar Brahma | January 16, 2015 – April 18, 2015 |
20. | Nasim Zaidi | April 19, 2015 – July 5, 2017 |
21. | Achal Kumar Jyoti | July 6, 2017 – January 22, 2018 |
22. | Om Prakash Rawat | January 23, 2018 – December 1, 2018 |
23. | Sunil Arora | December 2, 2018 – April 12, 2021 |
24. | Sushil Chandra | April 13, 2021 – May 14, 2022 |
25. | Rajiv Kumar | May 15, 2022 – February 18, 2025 |
26. | Gyanesh Kumar | February 19, 2025 – Present |
Latest Uproar Against CEC
The latest controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar centres on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have accused the Election Commissioner of taking decisions regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls without unanimity of the other two Election Commissioners. Protests have been held in several parts of the country, with demonstrators demanding Kumar’s resignation.