Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), a tenure that will last until January 26, 2029. The appointment process this year was unique, as it followed the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. This law establishes a new selection committee for the CEC appointment, which has led to significant changes in the electoral system in India. The process, however, has also sparked controversy, particularly due to the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel.

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• Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure as CEC will run until January 26, 2029, overseeing 20 state elections, the 2027 President and Vice-President elections, and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
• The appointment process this year was unique, with a new selection committee created under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.
• The Act mandates that a search committee, headed by the Minister of Law and Justice, prepares a panel for the Selection Committee’s approval.
• The new selection committee comprises the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
• Prior to this law, the CEC and other Election Commissioners were appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, with seniority often determining succession.
• In March 2023, the Supreme Court ruled on petitions regarding the lack of a law for CEC appointments, initially recommending a collegium-style system.
• However, Parliament passed the new Act, which excluded the Chief Justice of India from the selection process, causing controversy.
• The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 2023 law in February.
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an independent authority responsible for conducting fair elections in India.
• The Constitution of India, under Part XV (Articles 324–329), provides powers to the ECI for overseeing elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.