Who is Rajiv Kumar, India's new Chief Election Commissioner?

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the appointment of Rajiv Kumar as the new Chief Election Commission.

Rajiv Kumar has been named as the Chief Election Commissioner with effect from May 15, as per the government notification issued on Thursday. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the appointment of Rajiv Kumar as the new Chief Election Commission. Kumar will take up the office on May 15, replacing Sushil Chandra. The President of India issued an official notification to that effect.

A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice read, "President is pleased to name Shri Rajiv Kumar, the most senior Election Commissioner, as Chief Election Commissioner of the Indian Election Commission. Following Shri Sushil Chandra's demission of the post of Chief Election Commissioner on May 14, 2022, Shri Rajiv Kumar will take over as Chief Election Commissioner with effect from May 15, 2022."

About Rajiv Kumar's profile
Following the official website of the ECI, On September 1, 2020, Kumar became the Election Commissioner. Kumar is a Bihar/Jharkhand cadre Indian Administrative Services (IAS) official who has worked in several government departments for over 36 years. In February 2020, he superannuated from the IAS.

Kumar has previously served on the Central Boards of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), SBI, and NABARD, and in central and state cadres in the Social Sector, Environment & Forests, Human Resources, Finance, and Banking sectors, following his profile on the Election Commission of India website.