New Delhi, Jan 19: 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, placing India at the forefront of global dialogue on democratic governance and electoral practices.
The three-day conference will be organised by the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
According to the ECI, IICDEM 2026 is expected to be the largest global conference of its kind hosted by India in the field of democracy and election management. Nearly 100 international delegates representing over 70 countries are expected to participate, along with representatives of international organisations, foreign missions in India, and academic and practising experts in the electoral domain.
The conference aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas, best practices, and innovations among Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will welcome the delegates and inaugurate the proceedings on January 21.
The programme will feature general and plenary sessions, including an EMB Leaders’ Plenary, EMB Working Group meetings, and thematic discussions on global electoral challenges, model international electoral standards, and innovations and best practices in electoral processes.
A total of 36 thematic groups, led by CEOs of States and Union Territories and supported by national and international academic experts, will conduct in-depth deliberations. Participation will also include leading academic institutions, such as four IITs, six IIMs, 12 National Law Universities (NLUs), and IIMC.
The ECI will additionally hold over 40 bilateral meetings with EMBs to strengthen cooperation and address challenges faced by election management bodies globally. During the conference, the Commission will also showcase ECINET, ECI’s digital platform providing comprehensive election-related information and services.
An exhibition highlighting India’s electoral scale and initiatives, along with the docuseries “India Decides” on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, will be showcased during the event. (Agencies)
