New Delhi: Rajiv Kumar, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Bihar-Jharkhand cadre of 1984 batch and currently serving as an Election Commissioner, has been appointed the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. He will assume charge on May 15 after incumbent Sushil Chandra demits office on May 14, a notification issued by the Law Ministry said on Thursday.

“The President is pleased to appoint Shri Rajiv Kumar, the senior most Election Commissioner, as the Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. Shri Rajiv Kumar will assume the charge of the Chief Election Commissioner with effect from the 15th May, 2022 vice Shri Sushil Chandra consequent upon his demitting the Office of the Chief Election Commissioner on the 14th May, 2022,” said the Ministry of Law and Justice in a press note.

It is worth mentioning that Rajiv Kumar took charge as an Election Commissioner in the ECI on September 1, 2020. Prior to assuming charge in the Election Commission, he had been Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board. During his tenure as Finance Secretary-cum-Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Government of India, he had the mandate to look after banking, insurance and pension reforms.

Kumar supervised the financial services sector and was instrumental in inter-alia introducing major initiatives or reforms such as banking reforms with a comprehensive approach of recognition, recapitalization, resolution and reform. As a starting point to curb the circulation of black money in layered fashion, Kumar had frozen bank accounts of around 3.38 lakh shell companies used for creating fictitious equity. /BI/