S. Y. Quraishi

S. Y. Quraishi is the former Chief Election Commissioner of India and was the 17th Chief Election Commissioner of India from 30 July 2010. He previously held the position of Election Commissioner with the Election Commission of India.

Prior to joining the Commission, he was Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India and Special Secretary (Health) & Director General of the National AIDS Control Organization. Quraishi also pioneered India’s biggest AIDS awareness programme and IEC campaign, 'Universities Talk AIDS'.

Quraishi has published a number of books and articles on issues related to democracy, elections, HIV AIDS and family planning, social marketing, women and child development and Youth. His book Social Marketing for Social Change (1998) broke new ground in the field of development communication. He is also the author of An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election (2014).

Quraishi was an International IDEA Board Member from 2012-2021.