Who Is Rajiv Kumar? 1984-Batch IAS Officer Replacing Sushil Chandra As New Chief Election Commissioner

Before taking charge as Election Commissioner in September 2020, Kumar was the Chairman of Public Enterprise Sector Board in April 2020. 

New Delhi: Rajiv Kumar, a 1984-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer, has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner. He will take charge from outgoing CEC Sushil Chandra on May 15.

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, congratulating the new CEC, tweeted, "In pursuance of clause (2) of article 324 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Rajiv Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner with effect from the 15th May, 2022. My best wishes to Shri Rajiv Kumar.” 

Before taking charge as Election Commissioner in September 2020, Kumar was the Chairman of Public Enterprise Sector Board in April 2020. 

As Finance Secretary-cum-Secretary, Department of Financial Services to GOI from September 2017 to February 2020, Kumar is credited with reforms such as — Banking reforms with comprehensive approach of Recognition, Recapitalization, Resolution and Reform.

The 1984-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) Officer of Bihar/Jharkhand cadre has previously been appointed as Director, 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 Appointments Search Committee (FSRASC), Civil services Board among many other such Boards and Committees.

The new CEC has also been Establishment Officer, Department of  Personnel and Training from 2015-17 and prior to that Joint Secretary, Department of Expenditure with earlier assignments also in Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Forest as also Education Department in State cadre.

In the initial years of his service, Kumar worked as Director, Primary Education, Bihar; Director Industries, Bihar; Deputy Commissioner, District Development Commissioner, ADM (Law & Order) and SDM. 

Born on 19th February 1960, Kumar acquired academic qualifications of B.SC, LL.B, PGDM and MA Public Policy. Father of two daughters, Kumar is also a keen trekker who crossed number of passes across Himalayas in Ladakh, Himachal, Uttrakhand, Sikkim, Tibet  and also in Sahyadri, Western Ghats, Palghat, etc.