As Rajiv Kumar prepares to retire, his tenure as India’s Chief Election Commissioner reflects a firm commitment to democracy and reform.

In a country of over 900 million eligible voters, where elections often resemble logistical marvels, Rajiv Kumar’s tenure as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) stands as a testament to quiet diligence and unyielding resolve. Kumar, who is set to retire on February 18 after the conduct of the Delhi Assembly election, leaves behind an electoral legacy marked by record-breaking voter participation and significant institutional reforms. His journey, however, began under a tree.
Born February 19, 1960, Kumar grew up attending a municipal school where classrooms were an open-air affair. He once recalled how he carried a slate to school and sat under a tree to study. Such humble beginnings shaped his resolve to prioritize inclusion and equity— values that later became central to his career.
Kumar’s academic credentials include degrees in Economics, Law, and Public Policy, a diverse education that mirrored the multifaceted challenges he would face in public service. Joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1984, he carved a career across ministries in social development, environment, finance, and governance, earning a reputation for rigor and reform.
But it was in his role as CEC that Kumar’s vision found its most resonant platform. When he assumed office on May 15, 2022, he inherited an electoral machinery often scrutinized for its scale and susceptibility to malpractice. Over the next two years, Kumar transformed these challenges into opportunities, setting benchmarks for transparency and efficiency.
One of Kumar’s early achievements as CEC was conducting the 2022 Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections, followed by state assembly polls across 11 states, including political heavyweights like Gujarat and Karnataka. The peaceful conduct of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir last year, which witnessed its first polls since the abrogation of Article 370, should count as a distinguished feather in Kumar’s cap. No less laudable was the success in conducting elections in Maharashtra – a keenly-contested state – in a single phase last year.
Under his watch, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed 64.2 crore voters, including a record-breaking 31.2 crore women, casting their ballots—a world record in participatory democracy. Kumar attributed this achievement to meticulous planning and exhaustive reviews.
Kumar was particularly vocal about combating the corrosive role of money in elections. His tenure saw an unprecedented crackdown on financial improprieties, with seizures totalling over Rs. 3,400 crores during state elections—a tenfold increase compared to previous polls.
Beyond enforcement, Kumar championed systemic transparency. He initiated reforms in political financing, introducing a web portal for timely financial disclosures by political parties. The move aimed to empower voters with insights into the financial dealings of those vying for their trust. By delisting 284 Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) for financial impropriety, Kumar’s tenure signalled a new era of accountability.
His leadership extended beyond domestic shores. Under his aegis, India led the ‘Democracy Cohort on Election Integrity’ and hosted international conferences on electoral best practices, underscoring his vision of a globally respected Election Commission.
Known for his poetic eloquence, he regularly peppered his addresses with couplets. At a time when the Commission faced allegations of bias, he recited: “Jhoothkegubbaron ko bulandi mile, koi shikwanahi; harparinam me pramandetehain.”
The verse was emblematic of Kumar’s ethos. His ability to balance criticism with conviction has allowed him to calmly navigate the politically charged landscape of Indian elections.
While Kumar’s tenure as CEC is filled with accolades, it also reflects his personal aspirations. Among them is his desire to return to his roots and teach underprivileged children. For a man whose education began under a tree, this ambition is both symbolic and sincere.
Despite the accolades, Kumar has remained acutely aware of the challenges that persist. Addressing low voter turnout in urban areas, particularly among the youth, became a personal mission.
As he prepares to step away from the limelight, the legacy he leaves behind is monumental. From record-breaking voter participation to electoral integrity reforms, his tenure has reshaped India’s democratic processes. In his own poetic style, Kumar might describe it as an unbroken chain of trust between the Election Commission and the electorate. His tenure as Chief Election Commissioner reminds us that democracy thrives not merely on ballots but on the people who safeguard them.
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