Gyanesh Kumar Appointed as New CEC

The Central Government has appointed Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), replacing Rajiv Kumar. Gyanesh Kumar is a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre and is senior to the other two members in the commission.

Other Election Commissioners & New Appointment

The Election Commission panel includes Sukhbir Singh Sandhu (Uttarakhand cadre) and Vivek Joshi, who has also been appointed as an Election Commissioner. Joshi previously served as the Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner.

Selection Process & New Law

The selection was made by a committee comprising PM Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, and Amit Shah. This is the first appointment under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioner Act, 2023, which came into effect in December 2023.

Rajiv Kumar’s Tenure & Achievements

Rajiv Kumar served as CEC from May 2022 and oversaw major elections, including Lok Sabha 2024. His tenure saw significant electoral reforms and peaceful elections with minimal repolling.