On Monday, February 17, 2025, Dr. Vivek Joshi, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Haryana cadre, was appointed as an Election Commissioner. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Law and Justice following a selection process conducted under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

Joshi previously served as Secretary, Personnel in the Government of India and held the position of Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs. More recently, he was appointed as Haryana’s Chief Secretary in November 2024. His appointment to the ECI now initiates the search for a new Chief Secretary for Haryana, with five senior IAS officers under consideration—Sudhir Rajpal, Sumita Misra, Anurag Rastogi, Anand Mohan Sharan, and Raja Sekhar Vundru. Sources indicate that Rastogi is the leading contender despite his impending retirement in June 2025.

Gyanesh Kumar Takes Charge as Chief Election Commissioner, the Law Ministry confirmed. His appointment marks the first under the new 2023 law governing the selection of Election Commission members. Kumar’s term will extend until January 26, 2029, positioning him to oversee the next Lok Sabha elections and other significant electoral events in India.

The selection of Joshi and Kumar was finalized during a meeting of the selection panel chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The committee included Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, who jointly recommended the appointments to President Droupadi Murmu.

However, the appointments have sparked political debate, with the Congress party advocating for a delay pending a Supreme Court hearing on the matter. Despite these concerns, the appointments align with the powers granted under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.