Chief Election Comissioner

SHRI N. GOPALASWAMI, IAS

DATE OF BIRTH: 21 APRIL, 1944

CADRE & YEAR : GUJARAT, 1966

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS :

• M.Sc.(Chemistry), Delhi University,1965 (First Class, First-Recipient of Prof. Mitra Gold Medal)

• Diploma in Urban Development Planning
  University of London

1. A Gold Medallist Post-Graduate in Chemistry (1965) from Delhi University, Shri N. Gopalaswami, hailing from a village NEEDAMANGALAM (then in THANJAVUR DIST.) in TAMIL NADU, did his Schooling in a nearby small town MANNARGUDI and his Graduation in Chemistry (1963) from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli.

2. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in the year 1966 and for the next twenty-five years he served in the State of Gujarat in various capacities. During the period from July 1967 to August 1992, he held various top level posts including that of the Managing Director, Gujarat Communication and Electronics Limited, Vadodara — a leading Public Sector Company manufacturing a variety of Professional Electronics Equipments in the field of communication, Navigational Aids and Video products. He also served as Member (Administration & Purchase) in the Gujarat Electricity Board; Secretary to Government (Science & Technology in Technical Education and Secretary, Department of Revenue. Earlier he was also District Magistrate in the districts of Kutch and Kheda; Municipal Commissioner Surat; Director of Relief; Director of Higher Education and Joint Secretary (Home Department), Government of Gujarat.

3. He served the Government of India since August, 1992 till February, 2004. Immediately prior to this appointment in the Election Commission of India, he was the Union Home Secretary and prior to that, he held the posts of Secretary in the Department of Culture and Secretary General in the National Human Rights Commission. Earlier he had worked as Adviser (Education) in the Planning Commission, Joint Secretary, Department of Electronics, in-charge of Software Development and Industry Promotion Division and also the head of Software Technology Park of India (STPI) Society and SATCOMM India Society.

4. He was appointed Election Commissioner since 8 February, 2004 concerned with the conduct of elections both to the centre and the states apart from the election to the offices of the President of India and Vice-President of India. Shri N. Gopalaswami is also a member of Delimitation Commission since 16 May,2005. He was an international observer in USA during the Presidential Election in November, 2004 and in Mauritius for the General Elections held in July, 2005.

5. He was appointed as Chief Election Commissioner of India on 30th June, 2006.