Chief Election Commissioner of India

Chief Election Commissioner of India
Incumbent
Gyanesh Kumar
since 19 February 2025
Election Commission of India
TypeChief Election Commissioner
StatusHead of the Election Commission of India
NominatorUnion Council of Ministers
AppointerPresident of India
Term length6 years or up to 65 years of age
(whichever is prior)
Inaugural holderSukumar Sen
DeputyElection Commissioners of India
Deputy Election Commissioners of India
Salary250,000 (US$3,000) per month
WebsiteElection Commission of India

The Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) heads the Election Commission of India, a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections. An election commissioner is appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a three-member selection committee headed by the Prime Minister of India and consisting of the leader of the opposition and a Union Cabinet Minister. The term of a CEC can be a maximum of six years or till he/she attains sixty five years of age. The Chief Election Commissioner is usually a member of the Indian Civil Service and mostly from the Indian Administrative Service.