Who has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India?

Introduction / Context:
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India heads the Election Commission of India and plays a crucial role in conducting free and fair elections. Questions on appointments to constitutional positions, such as CEC, are common in current affairs and general knowledge sections. This question asks you to identify who has been appointed as the new CEC from the given options, reflecting a specific period when Sunil Arora took over this important role.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The post concerned is Chief Election Commissioner of India.
• We are asked about a recent appointment at the time when the question was framed.
• Four options are provided, including names and a generic "None of the above".
• We assume the context of the period when Sunil Arora assumed office as CEC.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is based on current affairs awareness. Sunil Arora, who had previously served as an Election Commissioner, was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner of India after the retirement of his predecessor. GK and current affairs sources from that time clearly reported his appointment. The other names listed are not associated with the post of CEC in standard references. Therefore, identifying Sunil Arora from the options is the correct step.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the post is that of Chief Election Commissioner, a constitutional authority. Step 2: Recall from your current affairs reading who recently took charge as CEC. Step 3: Remember that Sunil Arora was appointed to this position after serving as Election Commissioner. Step 4: Locate his name among the given options. Step 5: Select Sunil Arora as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done through newspaper archives, official Election Commission of India announcements, and yearbooks that record important appointments. During the relevant year, all credible sources mention Sunil Arora as the new Chief Election Commissioner. They also provide his tenure details and major elections held under his supervision. Since none of the other options match the official records for this post, the choice of Sunil Arora is verified by multiple sources.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rajat Kumar: Not listed as a Chief Election Commissioner of India in standard constitutional or current affairs references.
Sandeep Misra: Also not associated with the post of CEC in authoritative lists of office holders.
None of the above: Incorrect because Sunil Arora is a valid and correct name corresponding to the CEC appointment in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is outdated or incomplete current affairs knowledge. If a candidate has not updated information, they may confuse different Election Commissioners or mix up names from other constitutional posts. Another mistake is to hurriedly mark "None of the above" when the candidate does not immediately recall the name. To avoid this, always maintain a short list of current office holders for key constitutional posts such as President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, CEC, and heads of major regulatory bodies. Regular revision of this list keeps the information fresh.

Final Answer:
The new Chief Election Commissioner of India referred to in this question is Sunil Arora.