100 delegates from 70 nations to participate in the event
New Delhi, Jan 19 The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.
Organised by the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM), the three-day event is set to be the largest global conference hosted by India in the field of democracy and election management, the ECI said on Monday.
Nearly 100 international delegates from over 70 countries will participate, along with representatives from international organisations, foreign missions in India, and leading academics and election management professionals.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will inaugurate the conference and welcome the delegates on January 21.
The programme will feature inaugural and plenary sessions, EMB Leaders’ Plenary, working group meetings, and thematic discussions on global electoral challenges, international electoral standards, and innovative election practices.
A total of 36 thematic groups, led by CEOs of States and Union Territories and supported by national and international experts, will hold detailed deliberations. Participants will include experts from 4 IITs, 6 IIMs, 12 National Law Universities (NLUs) and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).
The ECI will also conduct over 40 bilateral meetings with Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to strengthen global cooperation in addressing electoral challenges.
During the conference, the Commission will formally launch ECINET, its unified digital platform for election-related information and services. An exhibition highlighting the scale and complexity of Indian elections, along with initiatives to strengthen electoral rolls and election conduct, will run alongside the event.
Additionally, a docuseries titled ‘India Decides’, showcasing the conduct of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, will be screened on the opening day.
