Rajiv Kumar takes charge as country's 25th Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi: Senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar took over as the country’s 25th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in New Delhi on Sunday. It may be recalled that the Central government has recently issued orders appointing him as the Chief Election Commissioner, who has so far continued as a Commissioner in the Election Commission of India.

It is learnt that Sushil Chandra, who continued as CEC till May 14, retired on Saturday. Rajiv Kumar took over the post of CEC on Sunday following the retirement of Sushil Chandra. Rajiv Kumar, who will continue in this position till February 2025, will also conduct the forthcoming President and Vice-President elections in 2024 as well as the forthcoming general elections

Rajiv Kumar, who had been an Election Commissioner since September 1, 2020, would likely oversee the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as his term is until 2025. A retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch, Kumar held the post of chairman of the Public Services Enterprises Selection Board before being named as the EC. He had retired from the IAS in February 2020 as the Union Finance Secretary.