Stories
Gyanesh Kumar: From IIT Kanpur Graduate to Chief Election Commissioner, A Distinguished Career
N
News18•26-09-2026, 10:25
Gyanesh Kumar: From IIT Kanpur Graduate to Chief Election Commissioner, A Distinguished Career
- •Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer, assumed office as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India on February 19, 2025.
- •He is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, where he completed his B.Tech in Civil Engineering, and later studied at ICFAI and Harvard University.
- •Kumar served nearly four decades in civil service, holding key positions in Kerala, including District Collector of Ernakulam and Municipal Commissioner of Kochi.
- •He held significant roles in the central government, including Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Secretary in the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Co-operation.
- •Appointed Election Commissioner on March 15, 2024, he played a crucial role in conducting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Key Questions Answered
Gyanesh Kumar assumed office as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India on February 19, 2025.
Gyanesh Kumar completed his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur in 1985. He later studied Business Finance at ICFAI and Environmental Economics at Harvard University.
Gyanesh Kumar is a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre who spent nearly four decades in civil service. His roles included District Collector of Ernakulam, Municipal Commissioner of Kochi, Managing Director of the Kerala State Co-operative Bank, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, and Secretary in the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Co-operation.
