Dr. Nasim Zaidi will assume charge as India's 20th chief election commissioner (CEC) today.
He will succeed Hari Shankar Brahma, who retired yesterday.
Dr. Zaidi will be the sole member of the three-member Election Commission till the government fills up the two vacant posts of election commissioners.
He will be the CEC till July, 2017, when he turns 65. An election commissioner can remain in office for six years or till he attains the age of 65 years.
Dr. Zaidi is an IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh cadre of the 1976 batch.
Dr. Zaidi possesses a Master's degree in public administration from Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and has been a Mason Fellow for Public Policy at Harvard Institute for International Development. He has a post-graduate diploma in business finance from Indian Institute of Finance and holds doctorate in bio-chemistry.
Dr. Zaidi has served as the Permanent Representative of India on the Council of ICAO from November 2005 to October 2008. He has served as the Director General of Civil Aviation. He retired from the government as civil aviation secretary on July 31, 2012.