Part of: Uttarakhand Polity Notes · See also: Uttarakhand GK
Quick answer
Sushil Kumar is the Uttarakhand State Election Commissioner, in office since 29 August 2024 (as on 29 October 2026). Thus, he is the seventh holder of the post. The Commission dates from 2001 under Articles 243K and 243ZA. Also, it holds panchayat and urban body polls. Meanwhile, Radha Raturi is the State Chief Information Commissioner. However, the Lokayukta post has stayed vacant since 2013.
Key facts at a glance
- State Election Commissioner: Sushil Kumar (since 29 August 2024)
- First State Election Commissioner: Durgesh Joshi (2001 – 16 January 2005)
- State Chief Information Commissioner: Radha Raturi (oath 12 April 2025) — first woman CIC
- Lokayukta: vacant since 2013; first Lokayukta Justice S. H. A. Raza (2002–2008)
- Sixth State Finance Commission: 2026–2031, chaired by N. Ravi Shankar
- Human Rights Commission: constituted 13 May 2013
- SETU Aayog: replaced the State Planning Commission; CM is Chairperson
Uttarakhand State Election Commissioner list
The State Election Commission draws its power from Articles 243K and 243ZA. It first came up in 2001. Thus, it conducts elections to panchayats and urban local bodies.
The Governor appoints the State Election Commissioner. However, the Commissioner can be removed only like a High Court judge.
| No. | Commissioner | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durgesh Joshi | 2001 – 16 Jan 2005 |
| 2 | R. K. Verma | 16 Jan 2005 – 3 Apr 2008 |
| 3 | Vipin Chandra Chandola | 4 Apr 2008 – 17 Sep 2010 |
| 4 | Harish Chandra Joshi | 18 Sep 2010 – 15 Aug 2013 |
| 5 | Subardhan | 4 Sep 2013 – 18 Jun 2018 |
| 6 | Chandrashekhar Bhatt | 11 Jul 2018 – 10 Jul 2024 |
| 7 | Sushil Kumar | 29 Aug 2024 — present |
Among them, Chandrashekhar Bhatt had the longest run, about six years. Also, the present Uttarakhand State Election Commissioner, Sushil Kumar, ran the July 2025 panchayat polls. For those polls, also see Panchayati Raj in Uttarakhand.
Similarly, the January 2025 civic polls came under the same Commission. Those results appear in urban local bodies of Uttarakhand.
State Finance Commission
The Governor constitutes the State Finance Commission every five years. Its basis lies in Articles 243-I and 243Y. Therefore, it reviews the finances of local bodies such as panchayats.
| Commission | Period | Chairman |
|---|---|---|
| First | 2001–2006 | R. K. Dhar |
| Second | 2006–2011 | G. C. Srivastava |
| Third | 2011–2016 | Indu Kumar Pande |
| Fourth | 2016–2021 | T. S. Papola; Dr B. K. Joshi for rest of term |
| Fifth | 2021–2026 | Indu Kumar Pande |
| Sixth | 2026–2031 (constituted Jan 2025) | N. Ravi Shankar, former Chief Secretary |
Indu Kumar Pande chaired two Commissions, the third and the fifth. Moreover, the Sixth Commission was constituted in January 2025 for the period 2026–2031. It submitted its report to the Governor on 31 March 2026, before its period began.
State Information Commission
Next, the State Information Commission began on 3 October 2005 under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005. It has a State Chief Information Commissioner and up to 10 Information Commissioners.
| Chief Information Commissioner | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Dr R. S. Tolia (first) | 18 Oct 2005 – 17 Oct 2010 |
| Nrip Singh Napalchyal | 19 Oct 2010 – 1 Apr 2015 |
| Shatrughan Singh | 19 Nov 2016 – 18 May 2021 |
| Anil Chandra Punetha | 1 Jan 2022 – 9 May 2024 |
| Radha Raturi — first woman CIC | Oath 12 Apr 2025 — present |
Radha Raturi was earlier the first woman Chief Secretary, in 2024–25. Thus, she holds two “first woman” records. Also, the RTI side appears in governance in Uttarakhand.
Lokayukta of Uttarakhand
Justice S. H. A. Raza was the first Lokayukta, from 2002 to 2008. Next, Justice M. M. Ghildiyal served from 2008 to 2013. Since then, however, the post has stayed vacant.
Separately, the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act, 2011 came in November 2011, under CM B. C. Khanduri. Later, the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act, 2014 replaced it.
In May 2026, the High Court was still pressing for an appointment. Then, in June 2026, a search committee came up under Justice (Retd) Alok Verma. Later, on 12 October 2026, the High Court asked for a progress report within two weeks. Still, the State has appointed no Lokayukta (as on 29 October 2026).
Other commissions
| Body | Basis and facts |
|---|---|
| State Human Rights Commission | Section 21, Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993; constituted 13 May 2013; Chairperson (retd CJ or HC judge) + two members; first Chairperson Justice Vijender Jain (2013–2018) |
| State Commission for Women | Uttaranchal State Commission for Women Act, 2005; first Chairperson Dr Santosh Chauhan; present Kusum Kandwal |
| SCPCR (child rights) | Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005; set up 2011; Chairperson Dr Geeta Khanna (2026) |
| SC Commission | 2003 |
| Backward Classes Commission | Act of 2003 |
| Minorities Commission | From 2003 |
| State Food Commission | Section 16, National Food Security Act, 2013 |
| State Kisan Aayog | December 2016, Dehradun |
For the Public Service Commission, see the separate UKPSC chairman list.
Planning and migration bodies
SETU Aayog stands for State Institute for Empowering and Transforming Uttarakhand. In fact, it replaced the State Planning Commission of 2001. The Cabinet approved it in May 2023, and the order came on 25 July 2023.
Also, SETU Aayog is a think tank on the NITI model. The CM is its Chairperson, while Rajshekhar Joshi is Vice-Chairman (2026).
Similarly, the Gramya Vikas evam Palayan Nivaran Aayog deals with rural development and migration. It began by a GO of 25 August 2017 and got its present name in 2022. In addition, its HQ is at Pauri, the CM is Chairman, and Dr S. S. Negi is Vice-Chairman. It gave its first report in 2018.
Exam corner: common traps
- State Election Commissioner vs Chief Electoral Officer: the SEC holds panchayat and urban polls; the CEO works for the ECI on Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
- First SFC Chairman was R. K. Dhar, not Nityanand Swami; also, Indu Kumar Pande chaired two Commissions.
- Lokayukta: Justice S. H. A. Raza was first; the post has been vacant since 2013, and none has been appointed after the 2026 search committee.
- Radha Raturi is both the first woman Chief Secretary and the first woman CIC.
- SETU Aayog replaced the State Planning Commission (2001); the CM, not the Governor, is its Chairperson.
What UKPSC has asked
- Who was the first Lokayukta of Uttarakhand? S. H. A. Raza (UKPSC Uttarakhand High Court ARO Screening, 2026)
- Who constitutes the State Finance Commission to review panchayat finances? Governor (UKPSC Lower (Pre), 2021)
- When did the Uttarakhand Human Rights Commission become functional? May 2013 (UKPSC Uttarakhand High Court ARO Screening, 2026)
- Which pair is correct: first SFC Chairman Nityanand Swami, or first woman Governor Margaret Alva? Only the Margaret Alva pair (UKPSC Upper PCS (Pre), 2025)
- Who was the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttarakhand in October 2023? V. Shanmugam (UKPSC RO/ARO (Pre), 2023)
Revise in one page
State Election Commission: Arts 243K and 243ZA; set up 2001; Governor appoints; removal like an HC judge. First SEC Durgesh Joshi; present Sushil Kumar (since 29 August 2024). SFC: Governor constitutes it every five years (243-I, 243Y). First chairman R. K. Dhar; Sixth (2026–31) N. Ravi Shankar. Information Commission: 3 October 2005; first CIC Dr R. S. Tolia. Now Radha Raturi (oath 12 April 2025), the first woman CIC. Lokayukta: Raza (2002–08), then Ghildiyal (2008–13); vacant since 2013. Separately, the 2014 Act replaced the 2011 Act. Human Rights Commission: 13 May 2013; first Chairperson Justice Vijender Jain. Women’s Commission: first Chairperson Dr Santosh Chauhan. Finally, SETU Aayog replaced the Planning Commission (order 25 July 2023).
In the news
- Search committee formed for appointment of Lokayukta — the June 2026 step towards filling a post vacant since 2013.
- Viksit Uttarakhand Vision 2047 brainstorming meeting — a planning exercise on the State’s long-term development goals.
- High-level committee on demographic change — a Union Home Ministry panel set up to study demographic change.
Practise Uttarakhand Polity
- Daily 25 free practice questions — UKPSC previous-year questions, every morning.
- UKPSC previous year papers — bilingual PDFs of Upper PCS, Lower PCS, RO/ARO and more.
- UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series — full-length tests with detailed solutions.
Preparing for UKPSC Upper PCS, Lower PCS or RO/ARO? Join SAMVEG IAS, Dehradun. For batch details, call or WhatsApp +91 84759 04943.
Uttarakhand Polity Notes series
Frequently Asked Questions
Sushil Kumar is the State Election Commissioner of Uttarakhand, in office since 29 August 2024. This is the position as on 29 October 2026.
Justice S. H. A. Raza was the first Lokayukta, from 2002 to 2008. Justice M. M. Ghildiyal followed from 2008 to 2013, and the post has been vacant since 2013.
Radha Raturi is the State Chief Information Commissioner. She took oath on 12 April 2025 and is the first woman in the post.
Durgesh Joshi was the first State Election Commissioner of Uttarakhand. He served from 2001 to 16 January 2005.
The Governor constitutes the State Finance Commission every five years under Articles 243-I and 243Y.
The State Human Rights Commission was constituted on 13 May 2013. Justice Vijender Jain was its first Chairperson, from 2013 to 2018.
Facts as on 29 October 2026. Sources: Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan) Uttarakhand, High Court of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Election Commission of India, State departments, India Code and PIB.