New Delhi, Jan 21 Heads of 42 election management bodies (EMBs) from across the world participated in a high-level plenary at the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on Wednesday.
The EMB Leaders’ Plenary provided a platform for discussions on key global challenges in election administration, including misinformation, technological disruptions, voter inclusivity, and electoral integrity. The session was inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Around 60 international delegates, including EMB leaders and ambassadors or high commissioners, shared experiences and explored collaborative solutions to strengthen democratic processes. The discussions highlighted the importance of international cooperation to ensure resilient and credible elections.
As India assumes the chairship of International IDEA in 2026, it outlined its thematic priorities aligned with the conference theme of inclusive, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable democracy. With participation from over 70 countries, IICDEM 2026 is the largest global gathering of its kind hosted by India.
