Chandigarh: Dr. Vivek Joshi, a distinguished IAS officer of 1989 batch of Haryana cadre, has been appointed as the new Election Commissioner of India.
The announcement was made after a selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommended Dr Joshi’s name for the prestigious post. He will join the three-member Election Commission, which comprises Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Prakash and Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Dr Joshi, who has been serving as the Chief Secretary of Haryana since November 2024, has rich experience in public administration. On the request of the state government, Dr Vivek Joshi took over as the Chief Secretary of Haryana on November 1 last year after returning from deputation from the Central Government.
Prior to his appointment in Haryana, Dr Joshi has served for a long time on central deputation in the Government of India. He has served as Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training in the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensioners. In his illustrious career, he has also served as Secretary in the Department of Financial Services and Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs. His tenure in the Government of India was from 2001 to 2006 and then from 2010 to 2017 and from 2019 to 2024.
Prior to central deputation, Dr Joshi has served on several important posts in Haryana including Chief Executive Officer of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, Principal Resident Commissioner in New Delhi, Member Secretary of 5th State Finance Commission and Commissioner of Ambala Division. He has also served as Deputy Commissioner of Hisar, Jind and Panchkula, among other posts.
As the Chief Secretary of Haryana, Dr. Joshi has implemented several major initiatives aimed at improving governance and public welfare. One such initiative was the “Swachh Haryana Mission” launched in December 2024. This campaign, which will run till January 31, 2025, aimed to increase cleanliness in government offices across the state, optimize office spaces and dispose of old materials.
Dr Joshi holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee and a PhD in International Economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. His remarkable academic and professional background establishes him as an asset to the Election Commission, where his leadership and expertise will prove vital in ensuring the smooth functioning of the country’s electoral processes.
