History · Polity

Chief Election Commissioners

All 26 Chief Election Commissioners since the Election Commission was set up on 25 January 1950. Tenure in years, months and days, counted to 7 November 2026 for the person in office.

Exam facts

• Current CECGyanesh Kumar (since 19 Feb 2025)
• Longest tenureK. V. K. Sundaram: 8 yrs 9 months 10 days
• Shortest tenure (not counting acting)V. S. Ramadevi: 15 days
• ConstitutionArticle 324
• Election Commission founded25 January 1950 (National Voters' Day)
• Only woman CECV. S. Ramadevi (1990)
• Appointment lawChief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023
• Term6 years or age 65, whichever is earlier

Full list with tenure

1. 1
   Sukumar Sen21 Mar 1950 – 19 Dec 19588 yrs 8 months 28 daysConducted the first two general elections (1951–52, 1957)
2. 2
   K. V. K. Sundaram20 Dec 1958 – 30 Sep 19678 yrs 9 months 10 days
3. 3
   S. P. Sen Verma1 Oct 1967 – 30 Sep 19724 yrs 11 months 29 days
4. 4
   Dr Nagendra Singh1 Oct 1972 – 6 Feb 19734 months 5 daysLater President of the International Court of Justice
5. 5
   T. Swaminathan7 Feb 1973 – 17 Jun 19774 yrs 4 months 10 days
6. 6
   S. L. Shakdhar18 Jun 1977 – 17 Jun 19824 yrs 11 months 30 days
7. 7
   R. K. Trivedi18 Jun 1982 – 31 Dec 19853 yrs 6 months 13 days
8. 8
   R. V. S. Peri Sastri1 Jan 1986 – 25 Nov 19904 yrs 10 months 24 days
9. 9
   V. S. Ramadevi26 Nov 1990 – 11 Dec 199015 daysFirst and only woman CEC; shortest tenure
10. 10
    T. N. Seshan12 Dec 1990 – 11 Dec 19965 yrs 11 months 29 daysEnforced the Model Code of Conduct strictly; voter ID cards
11. 11
    M. S. Gill12 Dec 1996 – 13 Jun 20014 yrs 6 months 1 day
12. 12
    J. M. Lyngdoh14 Jun 2001 – 7 Feb 20042 yrs 7 months 24 daysRamon Magsaysay Award 2003
13. 13
    T. S. Krishnamurthy8 Feb 2004 – 15 May 20051 yr 3 months 7 days
14. 14
    B. B. Tandon16 May 2005 – 29 Jun 20061 yr 1 month 13 days
15. 15
    N. Gopalaswami30 Jun 2006 – 20 Apr 20092 yrs 9 months 21 days
16. 16
    Navin Chawla21 Apr 2009 – 29 Jul 20101 yr 3 months 8 days
17. 17
    Dr S. Y. Quraishi30 Jul 2010 – 10 Jun 20121 yr 10 months 11 daysFirst Muslim CEC; started National Voters' Day (25 January)
18. 18
    V. S. Sampath11 Jun 2012 – 15 Jan 20152 yrs 7 months 4 days
19. 19
    H. S. Brahma16 Jan 2015 – 18 Apr 20153 months 2 days
20. 20
    Dr Nasim Zaidi19 Apr 2015 – 5 Jul 20172 yrs 2 months 16 days
21. 21
    A. K. Jyoti6 Jul 2017 – 22 Jan 20186 months 16 days
22. 22
    O. P. Rawat23 Jan 2018 – 1 Dec 201810 months 8 days
23. 23
    Sunil Arora2 Dec 2018 – 12 Apr 20212 yrs 4 months 10 days
24. 24
    Sushil Chandra13 Apr 2021 – 14 May 20221 yr 1 month 1 day
25. 25
    Rajiv Kumar15 May 2022 – 18 Feb 20252 yrs 9 months 3 days
26. 26
    Gyanesh Kumar19 Feb 2025 – present1 yr 8 months 19 days so farFirst CEC appointed under the 2023 Act (selection committee led by the PM)