Retired 1984 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday assumed charge as the new Election Commissioner, filling the vacancy caused by Ashok Lavasa moving to the Asian Development Bank as vice president. Kumar, who retired as Union Finance Secretary in February last after 36 years in the IAS, will have a five-year tenure and retire in 2025. He will preside over the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024. According to rules, an election commissioner has six years on the post or till he turns 65, whichever is earlier. Kumar was born in February, 1960.
