Who Is Gyanesh Kumar, New Chief Election Commissioner Whose Tenure Will Last Till 2029?

Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Monday, 17 February 2025, as announced by the Law Ministry.

He is the first CEC to be appointed under a new law governing the selection of members of the Election Commission (EC).

Photo Credit: PTI

His tenure will last until January 26, 2029, just before the Election Commission is expected to declare the schedule for the next Lok Sabha elections.

Kumar was appointed following a meeting of a three-member committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. He is set to assume office on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, the same day the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a challenge against the law under which his selection was made.

As the senior-most Election Commissioner after outgoing CEC Rajiv Kumar, Gyanesh Kumar was the natural choice for the position.

Background and Career

Gyanesh Kumar, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Kerala cadre (1988 batch), previously served as the Union Cooperation Secretary before retiring on 31 January 2024. He was subsequently appointed as Election Commissioner on 14 March 2024.

During his tenure in the Union Home Ministry, he played a pivotal role in executing decisions following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Education and Professional Experience

Kumar completed a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur.

He further studied Business Finance at ICFAI, India, and Environmental Economics at the Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID), USA.

In Kerala, he held several key positions, including Assistant Collector of Ernakulam, Sub-Collector of Adoor, Managing Director of the Kerala State Development Corporation for SC/ST, and Municipal Commissioner of Cochin.

As Secretary to the Kerala government, he managed portfolios such as finance resources, fast-track projects, and public works.

At the central level, Kumar gained extensive experience serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, as well as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. He also held the positions of Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Cooperation before his retirement.

Upcoming Elections

As the 26th Chief Election Commissioner, Kumar will oversee several crucial elections, including the Bihar Assembly elections later this year.

In 2026, he will be responsible for conducting the Kerala and Puducherry Assembly elections, as well as the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.