TFP Bureau, Raipur, January 7, 2026: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM)–2026 from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking a major step in positioning India as a global leader in democratic governance and election management.
The three-day international conference is being organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of the Election Commission of India. It is expected to be the largest global conference of its kind ever organised by India in the domain of democracy and electoral management.
Around 100 international delegates representing Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the world will participate in the event. The conference will also see the presence of representatives from international organisations, foreign missions based in India, and leading academic and professional experts associated with electoral systems and democratic governance.
The conference is being held in line with the vision articulated by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, following India’s assumption of the Chairmanship of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for the year 2026. The central theme of IICDEM 2026 is “Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.”
Addressing media persons on Wednesday, Director General of IIIDEM Shri Rakesh Verma presented a detailed overview of the conference and its objectives. He said IICDEM 2026 will serve as a unique global platform to promote international cooperation among Election Management Bodies, encourage dialogue on emerging challenges, enable the exchange of best practices and innovations, and jointly develop solutions to strengthen democratic institutions worldwide. The interaction concluded with the unveiling of the official logo of IICDEM 2026.
A key focus of the conference will be to familiarise international participants with India’s robust electoral framework, transparent processes and technological innovations, which have made Indian elections a global benchmark in scale, credibility and inclusiveness. Delegates will gain insights into India’s experiences in conducting elections in diverse and challenging conditions.
The conference programme includes a range of high-level sessions such as the inaugural session, plenary meetings of EMB leaders, working group meetings of Election Management Bodies, and the launch of ECINet, a major digital initiative of the Election Commission. Several thematic sessions will also be organised, focusing on global electoral issues, international electoral standards, and innovations and best practices in election management.
During the three-day event, the Election Commission of India—led by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi—will hold over 40 bilateral meetings with heads of participating Election Management Bodies and other international representatives, further strengthening global democratic cooperation.
The conference will witness active participation from leading academic institutions, including four Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), twelve National Law Universities (NLUs), and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). As many as 36 thematic groups, led by Chief Electoral Officers of states and Union Territories along with national and international academic experts, will contribute to in-depth deliberations.
Following the press interaction, media representatives were taken on a guided tour of the IIIDEM campus in Dwarka. Officials highlighted that IIIDEM is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s largest capacity-building institutions in election management and administration, playing a vital role in developing global standards and reinforcing India’s leadership in international democratic cooperation.
