The Union Law and Justice Ministry on Thursday introduced the new Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who will take over as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from May 15. Kumar will take over from CEC Sushil Chandra, who is retiring.
“In accordance with clause (2) of Article 324 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Rajeev Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner with effect from May 15, 2022. My best wishes to Shri Rajeev Kumar,” the Union law said. Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Kumar took over as the Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on September 1, 2020. Before joining the Election Commission, Kumar was the chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board. He joined as PESB Chairman in April 2020.
Kumar, a 1984 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service of the Bihar/Jharkhand cadre, was dismissed from the IAS in February 2020.
Born on February 19, 1960, Kumar has attained multiple educational levels including BSc, LLB, PGDM and Masters in Public Policy and has worked for authorities across Union ministries and state cadres for over 37 years. Social Sector, Environment and Forestry, Human Resource, Finance and Banking Sector.
Kumar was also a Director on the Central Board of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), SBI, NABARD; Member, Economic Intelligence Council (EIC); Member, Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC); Member, Bank Board Bureau (BBB); Member, Financial Sector Regulatory Recruitment Scrutiny Committee (FSRASC), Civil Offering Board among various such boards and committees.
Kumar is credited with having a role in conceptualizing and executing mergers and acquisitions in the financial sector. Streamlining of the National Pension System (NPS) was also implemented under him once which benefited around 18 lakh central authority employees.
