The Government of India has appointed Gyanesh Kumar as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, following the conclusion of the tenure of the incumbent CEC, Rajiv Kumar, on February 18, 2025.
Gyanesh Kumar, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1988 batch from the Kerala cadre, was selected by a high-level panel chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The panel included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
During his illustrious career, Shri Kumar held several key positions in the Government of India. He served as Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and most recently retired as Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation, where he worked under the leadership of Shri Amit Shah.
Shri Kumar has been recognized for his pivotal contributions in various national initiatives. He played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust during his tenure with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Additionally, he was closely associated with the Jammu & Kashmir desk at MHA when Article 370 was rendered ineffective in 2019, significantly contributing to the region’s integration into the national framework.
Shri Gyanesh Kumar will assume office on February 19, 2025, and his tenure is set to continue until January 26, 2029.
