Celebrating Sunil Arora: A Look at the Life of India's 23rd Chief Election Commissioner
Today marks the 70th birthday of Sunil Arora, the 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of India. With a distinguished career spanning over 36 years in administrative services, Arora has played a pivotal role in overseeing significant elections in the country. Born in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, he has held various key positions, including Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Chairman of Indian Airlines. His tenure as Chief Election Commissioner from 2018 to 2021 was marked by crucial electoral reforms. Discover more about his life and contributions in this article.
Apr 13, 2026, 11:10 IST
A Milestone Birthday
Sunil Arora, the 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of India and a retired IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, is celebrating his 70th birthday today, April 13. He served as the Chief Election Commissioner from 2018 to 2021 and is recognized for his extensive experience of over 36 years in administrative services. Let’s explore some interesting facts about Sunil Arora on this special occasion...
Early Life and Education
Born on April 13, 1956, in Mohalla Premgarh, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Sunil Arora completed his early education in his hometown. He later earned a Master’s degree in English from Government College, Hoshiarpur, in 1976.
Career as an IAS Officer
Sunil Arora is an IAS officer from the 1980 batch. He has held the position of Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and has contributed to various ministries, including Finance, Textiles, and the Planning Commission. From 1992 to 2002, he served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Additionally, he was the Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Airlines for five years. Sunil Arora retired on April 30, 2016, after which he was appointed as the Director General of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs. Under his supervision, the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were conducted, along with assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Sikkim.
Tenure as Chief Election Commissioner
On December 2, 2018, Sunil Arora was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner by President Ram Nath Kovind, succeeding O.P. Rawat. He held this prestigious position until 2021, overseeing crucial electoral processes in the country.