NEW DELHI: Rajiv Kumar, the 25th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, retired on February 18, 2025, after a notable tenure marked by significant electoral events and reforms. Appointed as an Election Commissioner on September 1, 2020, Kumar ascended to the role of CEC on May 15, 2022, serving in the Election Commission for approximately four and a half years.
During his tenure, Kumar oversaw the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the pivotal Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. His leadership was characterized by structural and technological reforms within the Election Commission, as well as initiatives in capacity development, communication, international cooperation, and administration. Notably, he undertook an 18 km trek to Dumak village in Uttarakhand to assess polling requirements, demonstrating his commitment to accessible elections.
Upon retirement, Kumar expressed his intention to spend several months in solitude in the Himalayas to “detoxify” and later engage in teaching underprivileged children, reflecting on his own humble beginnings.
Succeeding him, Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, assumed the position of the 26th Chief Election Commissioner on February 19, 2025. Prior to this, he served as an Election Commissioner from March 15, 2024. Gyanesh Kumar holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur and has pursued studies in Business Finance from ICFAI, India, and Environmental Economics from Harvard University, USA.
With a tenure extending until January 26, 2029, Gyanesh Kumar is set to oversee numerous assembly elections and the next Lok Sabha elections, ensuring the continuation of the Election Commission’s mission to conduct free and fair elections across the nation.
Source: Web Team, C6N
