ECI FILES · SELECTIONS

How the commissioners were chosen

Eight selections since 2019, under three rules, with two recorded dissents.

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ECI FILES · SELECTIONS

How the commissioners were chosen

Eight selections since 2019, under three rules, with two recorded dissents.

Three rules, three panels

Executive convention

before 2019 – Mar 2023

No committee

No statute on selection. The President appointed on the Union government's advice, usually a serving or retired Secretary-rank officer; the senior-most Election Commissioner was normally elevated to Chief Election Commissioner.

6 selections under this rule

Cited: Rajiv Kumar joins as Election Commissioner in Lavasa's place, Predecessor rule: 1991 Act Section 10 already required unanimity or majority

Supreme Court's interim committee

Mar 2023 – Jan 2024

Until Parliament legislated, the President was to appoint on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or leader of the largest opposition party) and the Chief Justice of India.

0 selections under this rule

No appointment is recorded in the entries while this rule was in force: the last convention appointment was 18 Nov 2022 and the next appointment was 14 Mar 2024.

Cited: Supreme Court: PM, LoP and CJI to select CEC and ECs until Parliament legislates

2023 Act

Jan 2024 – present

Section 7: a selection committee of the Prime Minister (chair), the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or leader of the largest opposition party) and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. Section 6: a search committee headed by the Law Minister prepares a panel of five; Section 8 lets the committee choose outside it.

2 selections under this rule

Cited: Section 7: PM, a PM-nominated Cabinet Minister and LoP select CEC and ECs, Sections 5, 6, 8: Law Minister's search panel; committee may look beyond it, 2023 Act brought into force by notification S.O. 35(E), President assents to the 2023 Act, repealing the 1991 Act

8 selections, 2019 to today

panel → appointee

17 Feb 20252023 Act committee
Narendra ModiPrime Minister (chair)Majority
Amit ShahUnion Home Minister (nominated Cabinet Minister)Majority
Rahul GandhiLeader of Opposition in the Lok SabhaDissented
Gyanesh KumarChief Election Commissioner · took charge 19 Feb 2025
Vivek JoshiElection Commissioner · took charge 19 Feb 2025

Departures

How each commissioner's tenure ended, where it ended before a full term.
Date	Name	Office	How it ended	Cited
31 Aug 2020	Ashok Lavasa	Election Commissioner	Resigned	Ashok Lavasa resigns as Election Commissioner, effective 31 August, Ashok Lavasa's tenure as Election Commissioner ends by resignation
12 Apr 2021	Sunil Arora	Chief Election Commissioner	Tenure ended	CEC Sunil Arora demits office on completing tenure
14 May 2022	Sushil Chandra	Chief Election Commissioner	Tenure ended	CEC Sushil Chandra's tenure ends
14 Feb 2024	Anup Chandra Pandey	Election Commissioner	Tenure ended	EC Anup Chandra Pandey retires on reaching 65
9 Mar 2024	Arun Goel

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How the commissioners were chosen

How the commissioners were chosen

Three rules, three panels

8 selections, 2019 to today

Departures

Three rules, three panels

8 selections, 2019 to today

Departures

Rajiv Kumar becomes the 25th Chief Election Commissioner

Rajiv Kumar becomes the 25th Chief Election Commissioner