Tue Feb 18 10:11:47 UTC 2025: ## Gyanesh Kumar Appointed Next Chief Election Commissioner of India

**NEW DELHI** – Gyanesh Kumar, a Kerala cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. The three-member selection committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommended his name on Monday evening, and President Droupadi Murmu subsequently approved the appointment. Kumar will succeed Rajiv Kumar, whose term ends on February 18th. His tenure as CEC will last until January 26th, 2029.

Kumar, known for his close association with Home Minister Amit Shah, recently retired as Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation, a department under Shah’s purview. His career includes a stint as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, where he played a key role in drafting the bill that revoked Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the bill on the Triple Talaq. He was Joint Secretary (Kashmir Division) at the time of the Article 370 revocation.

Kumar’s involvement in handling documents related to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir case during his time as Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry has also been widely noted.

His educational background includes a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur, further studies in Business Finance, and a course in Environmental Economics from Harvard University. His family boasts a strong legacy in the medical profession, though he chose a career in civil service. Several family members are also in the IAS and IRS.

The appointment comes as India prepares for crucial upcoming elections. Kumar’s experience in high-profile government roles, particularly those related to sensitive political issues, will undoubtedly shape his leadership of the Election Commission. The UGC NET December 2024 results are expected to be released soon on ugcnet.nta.ac.in; this information is unrelated to the CEC appointment.

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