Who was appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India at the time referenced in this question?

Introduction / Context:
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) heads the Election Commission of India and oversees the conduct of free and fair elections. Appointments to this post are important constitutional events and are frequently asked in competitive examinations. This question focuses on the person who was appointed as the new CEC at the time under discussion.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The post is that of Chief Election Commissioner of India.
The question refers to a recent appointment described as the new CEC.
Four names of former and serving election officials are given as options.
The candidate must identify the individual who took over this role at that point in time.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is factual recall of high level constitutional appointments. Achal Kumar Jyoti, who had previously served as Election Commissioner, was elevated to the position of Chief Election Commissioner. Knowing the approximate period and the sequence of office holders helps in choosing the correct name among the options provided.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question is about the person who became the new CEC during a particular period. Step 2: Recall that Achal Kumar Jyoti was appointed as Chief Election Commissioner following the tenure of his predecessor. Step 3: Match this recollection with option A and select Achal Kumar Jyoti as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official notifications from the Government of India and news coverage of the appointment clearly confirm that Achal Kumar Jyoti assumed the office of Chief Election Commissioner. These sources list him as the new CEC at the time, whereas the other names correspond to either earlier CECs or later appointments. This confirms that option A is accurate.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
V S Sampath served as CEC before this period and was not the newly appointed CEC mentioned in the question, so option B is incorrect.
Om Prakash Rawat also became CEC but at a different time, so he does not match the specific reference here, making option C wrong in this context.
H S Brahma held the office earlier and is not the person described as the new CEC in this question, so option D is incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may confuse the order of appointment of CECs, especially when several names are familiar from recent years. Another pitfall is not paying attention to the phrase new Chief Election Commissioner and mixing it up with past or future holders of the office. Creating a timeline of recent CECs during exam preparation helps avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
The new Chief Election Commissioner mentioned in the question was Achal Kumar Jyoti.