Gyanesh Kumar

Studied Civil Engineering at IIT Kanpur. IIT Kanpur identifies him as alumnus BT/CE/1985.

Joined the Indian Administrative Service as a 1988-batch officer and was allotted the Kerala cadre.

Entered the IAS through direct recruitment. Official Kerala civil-service records record appointment on 25 August 1988 and confirmation on 25 August 1990.

Held early field-administration assignments in Kerala, including Assistant Collector of Ernakulam and Sub Collector of Adoor.

Served as Managing Director of the Kerala State Development Corporation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Served as Municipal Commissioner of the Corporation of Cochin.

Served as Managing Director of the Kerala State Cooperative Bank.

Handled the Industries and Commerce portfolio in the Kerala government.

Served as District Collector of Ernakulam.

Served as Secretary of the Goshree Islands Development Authority.

Served as Managing Director of the Trivandrum Airport Development Society.

Served as Commissioner of the Guruvayur Devaswom Board.

Served as Project Director of the Kerala State Transport Project.

Served in the Ministry of Defence as Joint Secretary, handling responsibilities connected with defence production and naval systems.

Served as Resident Commissioner of Kerala House in New Delhi. During this period he was associated with Kerala's efforts to evacuate Indians from Iraq during the security crisis.

Held senior Kerala-government responsibilities including Finance Resources, Fast Track Projects, Public Works, Modernising Government Program, Animal Husbandry and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.

Served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, including responsibilities relating to Jammu and Kashmir affairs.

Served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the Department of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs and responsibilities connected with the Ayodhya desk.

As Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, he was involved in the central government's administrative work concerning Jammu and Kashmir during the period surrounding the constitutional changes of 2019.

While serving in the Ministry of Home Affairs, he handled responsibilities connected with the Ayodhya desk.

Served as Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

Appointed Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation on 2 May 2022. His tenure included work on cooperative-sector reforms and the creation of national cooperative institutions.

Held additional charge of Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat for a temporary period in February 2023.

During his tenure as Cooperation Secretary, he was associated with implementation of cooperative-sector initiatives including the Multi-State Cooperative Societies framework and national cooperative bodies.

Retired from government service after serving as Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation.

Assumed charge as Election Commissioner of India. He served on the Election Commission during the 2024 General Election.

Served as Election Commissioner during the conduct of the 2024 Lok Sabha general election.

Took charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India, succeeding Rajiv Kumar.

Heads the Election Commission of India and oversees the constitutional administration of elections in India.

Assumed the Chairship of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for 2026.