Gyanesh Kumar Assumes Charge As 26th Chief Election Commissioner

Gyanesh Kumar has assumed charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. Gyanesh Kumar took charge as Election Commissioner on 15th of March, 2024. He is a 1988 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Kerala Cadre.

Gyanesh Kumar Assumes Charge As 26th Chief Election Commissioner

Gyanesh Kumar Appointed As 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)

Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. Gyanesh Kumar took charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India on 19th February 2025. He replaced Rajiv Kumar as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India.

Gyanesh Kumar took over the appointment of new Chief Election Commissioner of India at New Delhi with effect from 19th February 2025.

Read Also: Vivek Joshi Assumes Charge As Election Commissioner

The appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner of India has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Gyanesh Kumar took charge as Election Commissioner on 15th of March, 2024. During Gyanesh tenure as Election Commissioner, elections were held for the 18th Lok Sabha, State/UT Assemblies of Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and NCT of Delhi.

About Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar

26th CEC of India Gyanesh Kumar is a 1988 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Kerala Cadre. Gyanesh has a rich and varied experience of working in both Central and State Governments.

In the State Government of Kerala, he headed various departments such as Finance Resources; Public Works Department and Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs.

Kumar was also MD of Kerala State Development Corporation for SC/ST and also served as District Collector of Ernakulam and Municipal Commissioner of Cochin Corporation.

In the Centre Government, Gyanesh held various portfolios including Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs & Ministry of Cooperation.

After superannuation on 31st January 2024, he was appointed as the Election Commissioner in Election Commission of India on 15th of March, 2024.

Educational Life of 26th CEC Gyanesh Kumar

26th CEC Gyanesh Kumar is a Civil Engineer from IIT Kanpur and has also studied Business Finance from ICFAI, India and Environmental Economics from Harvard University, USA.

Election Commission of India

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.

The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950.

Originally the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. It currently consists of Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.

Appointment & Tenure Of Commissioners

The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. They have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.

Static Current Affairs related to Election Commission of India for upcoming exams

• Formation: 25 January 1950
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chief Election Commissioner of India: Gyanesh Kumar
• Election Commissioner: Sukhbir Singh Sandhu & Vivek Joshi, IAS