Gyanesh Kumar takes charge as India's 26th Chief Election Commissioner; Vivek Joshi joins as Election Commissioner
Gyanesh Kumar assumed charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, on 19 February 2025.
Summary
Gyanesh Kumar assumed charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India on 19 February 2025, following the Ministry of Law and Justice gazette notification of 17 February 2025, according to the Election Commission's press note. A 1988-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre and a civil engineer from IIT Kanpur, he had been an Election Commissioner since 15 March 2024. He succeeded Rajiv Kumar, who demitted office on 18 February, while former Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi took charge as Election Commissioner the same day. Both were appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Selection Committee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who submitted a dissent note. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, a Search Committee headed by the Law Minister prepares a panel of five names for the Selection Committee.
Key facts
- Date
- 19 February 2025 (gazette notification 17 February 2025)
- Post
- 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India
- Background
- 1988-batch IAS, Kerala cadre; civil engineer, IIT Kanpur
- Predecessor
- Rajiv Kumar (demitted office 18 February 2025)
- New Election Commissioner
- Vivek Joshi, former Haryana Chief Secretary
- Commission now
- Gyanesh Kumar (CEC), Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Vivek Joshi
- Selection Committee (Sec 7, 2023 Act)
- PM (Chair), Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM
- Search Committee (Sec 6)
- Headed by the Law Minister with two Secretary-rank members; panel of five names
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Gyanesh Kumar, who assumed charge on 19 February 2025, is India's which Chief Election Commissioner?
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Correct answer: B — 26th
The Election Commission's press note says Gyanesh Kumar assumed charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar belongs to the 1988 batch of the IAS from which cadre?
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Correct answer: A — Kerala
Gyanesh Kumar is a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre and served as District Collector of Ernakulam.
Who took charge as Election Commissioner on 19 February 2025, filling the vacancy created by Gyanesh Kumar's elevation as CEC?
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Correct answer: B — Vivek Joshi
Vivek Joshi, who was Haryana's Chief Secretary, took charge as Election Commissioner the same day; Sukhbir Singh Sandhu was already a member.
Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, the Search Committee that prepares a panel of five names is headed by the:
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Correct answer: C — Minister of Law and Justice
Section 6 of the 2023 Act provides for a Search Committee headed by the Minister of Law and Justice, with two members not below the rank of Secretary, to prepare a panel of five persons.
Consider the following statements about the Selection Committee under Section 7 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023: 1. It is chaired by the Prime Minister. 2. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is a member. 3. The Chief Justice of India is a member. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Section 7 names the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister as members; the Chief Justice of India is not on the committee, so only the first two statements are correct.