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Rajiv Kumar (IAS) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth19 February 1960

Age65 Years

BirthplaceUttar Pradesh, India

ProfessionRetired Civil Servant (IAS)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

FamilyTwo daughters

Rajiv Kumar (IAS) Biography

Rajiv Kumar is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1984 batch (Jharkhand cadre) who served at senior levels in multiple central and Jhrk

Early life and background

Rajiv Kumar was born on 19 February 1960 in Uttar Pradesh. He completed his schooling in Uttar Pradesh and went on to study at Delhi University. His higher education also includes an LLB, a postgraduate diploma in management, and a master's degree in public policy and sustainability. He trained at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration before entering the civil service.

Civil service beginnings and district work

Kumar joined the Indian Administrative Service in the 1984 batch and was allotted the Jharkhand cadre. Early postings saw him working in land revenue management and district administration. He served as a Sub Divisional Officer and later as Additional District Magistrate and Deputy Development Commissioner. Between 1993 and 1996 he was posted as a Deputy Commissioner in Ranchi.

Central government roles and tribal affairs

From 1990 to 1993 Kumar worked in the Ministry of Environment and Forests on the National Mission on Wasteland Development. He moved into roles at state and central levels in the late 1990s and, beginning in 2001, held senior positions in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in New Delhi. During his time in tribal affairs he drafted legislation and funding mechanisms intended to improve the flow of central and state funds for development in Scheduled Areas.

Personnel, finance and later senior appointments

Kumar held a series of senior personnel and finance postings. He served as Establishment Officer and Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training, including spells between 2008 and 2017 in related roles. Between 2012 and 2015 he was Joint Secretary in the Department of Expenditure in the Ministry of Finance. In 2017 he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Financial Services, a post he held until 2020. While in the finance ministry he worked on measures affecting banking, insurance and pension schemes, and played a role in the major consolidation of public sector banks. Before retiring from the IAS, he was appointed chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board.

Election Commission and chief election commissioner

After retirement from the IAS, Rajiv Kumar was appointed Election Commissioner of India in 2021. He later became the 25th Chief Election Commissioner. During his tenure at the poll panel he took firm positions on procedural matters and on enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines during election campaigns. His service as Chief Election Commissioner concluded on 19 February 2025 when Gyanesh Kumar succeeded him as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner.

Other roles and contributions

Kumar has been a member and chair in a range of financial and policy bodies, including roles on the central boards of institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, SBI and NABARD. He served on councils and committees like the Economic Intelligence Council, the Financial Stability and Development Council, Bank Board Bureau and other regulatory and appointments panels. He also headed a NITI Aayog task force on transparent personnel management. His career intersected with flagship initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and the Mudra loan scheme.

Personal life and interests

Rajiv Kumar is married and has two daughters. He is from Uttar Pradesh and holds Indian nationality. Outside of work he pursues trekking and has crossed several notable mountain passes on foot across the Himalayas, the Western Ghats and other ranges. He listens to Indian classical and devotional vocal music and practises meditation.

Public profile

Kumar's long bureaucratic career involved postings at state and central levels and participation in significant policy work covering tribal affairs, personnel management and financial sector reform. His time in senior finance positions included legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at strengthening oversight of cooperative banks and addressing unregulated deposit schemes. As a member of the Election Commission and later as Chief Election Commissioner, he was visible in debates about the poll body's procedures and its handling of public-health requirements during elections.

Latest updates

On 19 February 2025 Rajiv Kumar was succeeded as Chief Election Commissioner by Gyanesh Kumar, marking the formal end of his term in that office.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Rajiv Kumar (IAS), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Chief Election Commissioner of India

Served as the 25th Chief Election Commissioner before being succeeded on 19 February 2025.

2021-2025
Election Commissioner of India

Appointed to the Election Commission in 2021 and served on the poll panel prior to becoming Chief Election Commissioner.

2021-2025
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined the Indian Administrative Service, 1984 batch (Jharkhand cadre)
  2. Director and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (2001–2007 period of senior roles)
  3. Establishment Officer & Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training
  4. Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance (2017–2020)
  5. Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board prior to retirement
  6. 25th Chief Election Commissioner of India (succeeded in 2025)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Rajiv Kumar (IAS) born?

Rajiv Kumar (IAS) was born on 19 February 1960.

What is Rajiv Kumar (IAS) known for?

Rajiv Kumar (IAS) is known for retired Civil Servant (IAS).

What is Rajiv Kumar (IAS)’s marital status?

Rajiv Kumar (IAS)'s marital status is listed as Married.