New Delhi, Jan 21 The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday launched the three-day International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together global election leaders and experts.
The inaugural session was attended by nearly 1,000 participants, including delegates from 42 Election Management Bodies, ambassadors and high commissioners from 27 countries, representatives of over 70 national institutions, senior ECI officials, and 36 Chief Electoral Officers from across India.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, welcomed around 60 international delegates at a special reception.
Addressing the gathering, the CEC highlighted the evolving role of election bodies and India’s experience in conducting elections on an unparalleled scale across 28 states and eight Union Territories for a population of 1.5 billion.
Election Commissioner Dr. Sandhu underscored that public trust in elections is central to democracy, while Dr. Joshi noted that the conference brings together diverse stakeholders to strengthen electoral processes.
Director General of IIIDEM Rakesh Verma said the theme of IICDEM 2026—democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world—reflects a modern, multidimensional vision of democratic governance.
Participants also viewed previews of the upcoming docuseries India Decides, produced with Warner Bros. Discovery, showcasing the complexity of India’s electoral system.
