Wed Feb 19 06:12:10 UTC 2025: ## Gyanesh Kumar Takes Charge as India’s 26th Chief Election Commissioner

**New Delhi, [Date]:** Gyanesh Kumar assumed charge as India’s 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Wednesday. His appointment follows the retirement of Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday. Kumar, a 1988 batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, was appointed CEC on Monday. He previously served as an Election Commissioner since March 2024.

Kumar’s appointment marks a significant moment, as he is the first CEC appointed under the new law governing the appointment of Election Commission members. His tenure will last until January 26, 2029. The Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections shortly.

The new CEC will oversee several crucial elections during his tenure, including the Bihar Assembly elections later this year and the elections in Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal in 2026. Before joining the Election Commission, Kumar played a key role in implementing the government’s decision to revoke Article 370 provisions in Jammu and Kashmir while serving in the Union Home Ministry.

Currently, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu is an Election Commissioner, and Vivek Joshi was appointed as an Election Commissioner on Monday. Under the law, CECs and Election Commissioners retire at the age of 65 or after a six-year term.

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