The role of the Chief Election Commissioner of India holds significant constitutional authority, making it an essential topic in the polity section of the UPSC Syllabus. It is also crucial for candidates preparing for competitive government exams such as SSC and Banking. This article aims to provide a detailed list of Chief Election Commissioners of India, offering valuable insights for aspirants seeking to broaden their understanding in this specialized area.
India’s electoral administration recently saw a significant development with the appointment of Sukhbir Singh Sandhu from Punjab and Gyanesh Kumar from Kerala as the new Election Commissioners. This decision was made by a panel chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The information was disclosed by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on March 14, 2024. The vacancies in the Election Commission arose due to the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey on February 14, 2024, and the unexpected resignation of Arun Goel on March 8, 2024, which was formally announced on March 9, 2024.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) heads the Election Commission of India and is appointed by the President of India. The CEC serves a term of six years or until reaching the age of 65, whichever comes first. Typically, the CEC is a member of the Indian Civil Service, often from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). According to the Election Commission (Condition Of Service Of Election Commissions And Transaction Of Business) Act, 1991, the CEC’s salary is equivalent to that of a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, currently set at ₹250,000 per month. Removing the CEC is a challenging process, requiring two-thirds of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members to vote against them for misconduct or improper actions.
The Chief Election Commissioner leads the Election Commission of India. This group manages elections across India, including for the President and Vice President. The Indian Constitution outlines what the Election Commission can do. The President chooses the Chief Election Commissioner, and they can only be removed by a special vote in Parliament.
Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India. He served as the Chief Election Commissioner of India from 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958. Below is a comprehensive list of all Chief Election Commissioners of India from 1950 to 2023.
List of Chief Election Commissioners of India | |||
Sr. No. | Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Name | Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Tenure | |
Name | From | To | |
1 | Sukumar Sen | 21 March 1950 | 19 December 1958 |
2 | K. V. K. Sundaram | 20 December 1958 | 30 September 1967 |
3 | S. P. Sen Verma | 1 October 1967 | 30 September 1972 |
4 | Dr. Nagendra Singh | 1 October 1972 | 6 February 1973 |
5 | T. Swaminathan | 7 February 1973 | 17 June 1977 |
6 | S. L. Shakdhar | 18 June 1977 | 17 June 1982 |
7 | R. K. Trivedi | 18 June 1982 | 31 December 1985 |
8 | R. V. S. Peri Sastri | 1 January 1986 | 25 November 1990 |
9 | V. S. Ramadevi | 26 November 1990 | 11 December 1990 |
10. | T. N. Seshan | 12 December 1990 | 11 December 1996 |
11 | M. S. Gill | 12 December 1996 | 13 June 2001 |
12 | J. M. Lyngdoh | 14 June 2001 | 7 February 2004 |
13 | T. S. Krishnamurthy | 8 February 2004 | 15 May 2005 |
14 | B. B. Tandon | 16 May 2005 | 29 June 2006 |
15 | N. Gopalaswami | 30 June 2006 | 20 April 2009 |
16 | Navin Chawla | 21 April 2009 | 29 July 2010 |
17 | S. Y. Quraishi | 30 July 2010 | 10 June 2012 |
18 | V. S. Sampath | 11 June 2012 | 15 January 2015 |
19 | H. S. Brahma | 16 January 2015 | 18 April 2015 |
20 | Dr. Nasim Zaidi | 19 April 2015 | 5 July 2017 |
21 | Achal Kumar Jyoti | 6 July 2017 | 22 January 2018 |
22 | Om Prakash Rawat | 23 January 2018 | 1 December 2018 |
23 | Sunil Arora | 2 December 2018 | 12 April 2021 |
24 | Sushil Chandra | 13 April 2021 | 14 May 2022 |
25 | Rajiv Kumar | 15 May 2022 | 18 February 2025 |
Before October 1989, the Election Commission consisted of only one member. However, a law passed by Parliament resulted in the addition of two more Election Commissioners. As a result, the Election Commission now comprises a Chief Election Commissioner and two other Election Commissioners. Decisions of the commission are made through voting, with the majority determining the outcome.
In 1950, the Election Commission initially had only one Chief Election Commissioner. However, on October 16, 1989, two additional Commissioners were appointed for the first time. Unfortunately, they did not fully adapt to their roles, leading to the President revoking their positions on January 1, 1990. Subsequently, on October 1, 1993, the government reconstituted the Election Commission as a 3-member group through the Election Commissioner Amendment Act of 1989. Since then, decisions have been made by a majority vote. Furthermore, the official website of the commission was launched on February 28, 1998.
Election Commissioners of India | Tenure | ||
S.No. | Name | From | To |
1 | V.S. Seigell | 16 October 1989 | 2 January 1990 |
2 | S.S. Dhanoa | 16 October 1989 | 2 January 1990 |
3 | G.V.G. Krishnamurty | 1 October 1993 | 30 September 1999 |
4 | Ashok Lavasa | 23 October 2018 | 31 August 2020 |
5 | Anup Chandra Pandey | 9 June 2021 | 14 February 2024 |
6 | Arun Goel | 21 November 2022 | 9 March 2024 |
A detailed organizational Structure of the Office of Election Commission of India has been discussed below-
The organizational structure is designed to ensure the efficient conduct of elections and uphold electoral integrity nationwide.
The Rajya Sabha should formally present and vote on allegations of disorderly behaviour or improper actions against an individual. Rajiv Kumar assumes the position following Shri Sushil Chandra, who served as India’s 24th Election Commissioner from April 13, 2021, to May 14, 2022, as per a statement by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice on May 12, 2022.
Born on February 19, 1960, Rajiv Kumar brings over 35 years of experience across various Ministries at both State and Central levels, with a focus on the Social Sector, Environment, Human Resources, Finance, and more. His educational background encompasses multiple degrees, including B.Sc., PGDM, LL.B., and an MA in Public Policy and Sustainability.
Important Article | |
List of Prime Ministers of India | List of Presidents of India |
1st Chief Election Commissioner of India was Sukumar Sen who served from 1950 to 1958.
First women Chief Election Commissioner of India was V.S Ramadevi who served from 26th November 1990 to 11 December 1990.
Chief Election Commissioner of India is appointed by the President of India.
Rajiv Kumar is the 25th Chief Election Commissioner of India. Rajiv Kumar took the charge on May 2022 and succeeded Sushil Chandra as CEC.
The Chief Election Commissioner is the head of the Election Commission of India.
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