The Election Commission of India (ECI) is organizing the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) – 2026 from January 21 to 23 in New Delhi. This three-day conference, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, is set to be the largest global event in the field of election management and democracy. Nearly 100 international delegates, including representatives from Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide, will participate.
The conference, led by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the ECI, aims to promote international cooperation among EMBs. It will focus on addressing contemporary electoral challenges, sharing best practices, and fostering innovative solutions. The theme of the event is “Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable world.”
Director General of IIIDEM, Rakesh Verma, highlighted the significance of IICDEM 2026 as a global platform for collaboration among EMBs. The conference will provide insights into India’s electoral framework, processes, and technological advancements, which have set global standards in democratic elections. Various sessions, including plenaries and thematic discussions, are planned to cover global electoral issues and best practices in election management.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, will lead the ECI’s engagements during the conference. Over 40 bilateral meetings are scheduled with heads of participating EMBs and international delegates. The event will also involve leading academic institutions and experts contributing to the discussions on electoral standards and democratic cooperation.
The IIIDEM Dwarka campus, known for capacity building in election management and global electoral standards, was showcased to media persons post the press conference. This campus is playing a crucial role in reinforcing India’s leadership in international democratic cooperation.
