Early life
Born in Punjab in 1962, Goel holds a master's degree in Mathematics from Punjabi University. He also holds a post-graduation degree in Development Economics from Churchill College, University of Cambridge, England.
Career
Goel is a 1985-batch Indian Administrative Services officer from the Punjab cadre. He started his career as a sub-divisional officer (SDO) in 1989 and served with various ministries including the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Delhi Development Authority and has held several roles under the government of Punjab.
He served as a secretary of Heavy Industry from December 2019 till November 2022. He took voluntary retirement from the role on November 18 weeks before his scheduled retirement on December 31. He was appointed to the ECI as one of the Election Commissioners by President Droupadi Murmu on November 19.
ECI is a three-member body with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two additional commissioners in charge of conducting free and fair elections in the country. Goel joined Rajiv Kumar, the CEC and Anup Chandra Pandey on the poll panel.
Goel will serve the office till December 2027 and is in line to be the next CEC after the incumbent Rajiv Kumar’s tenure expires in February 2025.
