Sunil Arora takes over as new Chief Election Commissioner of India

Sunil Arora assumed charge as 23rd Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. He succeeded OP Rawat who retired on 1 December 2018. He will have nearly two-and-a-half-year tenure as CEC and General Election 2019 to 17th Lok Sabha will be conducted under his stewardship. Prior to assuming this, charge he was serving as Election Commissioner in Election Commission of India (ECI) from September 2017.

Sunil Arora

Sunil Arora is retired IAS officer of1980-batch from Rajasthan cadre. He had retired in April 2016 as Information and Broadcasting secretary. Prior to this, he was skill development secretary. He has also worked in ministries and departments such as Finance, Textiles and Planning Commission and also has served as CMD of Indian Airlines for five years. In his home state, he had served as principal secretary of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from 2005 to 2008.

Election Commission of India (ECI)

It is permanent and independent constitutional body established directly by Constitution of India under Article 324 to ensure fair and fair elections in the country. It is multi-member body and currently has three members including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two election commissioners (ECs). They all are appointed by the President.
Service conditions and tenure of office CEC and ECs are determined by an act of parliament titled The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Conditions of Service) Act, 1991. They hold office for term of six years or until they attain age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
CEC and ECs have equal power and receive equal salary, allowances and other perquisites, which are similar to judge of Supreme Court. In case of difference of opinion amongst CEC and Election Commissioner, matter is decided by Commission by majority.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2018