New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) convened a conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) at IIIDEM, New Delhi, on January 8, 2026, in preparation for the upcoming India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM 2026), scheduled to be held from January 21 to 23, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
CEC and Election Commissioners Address CEOs
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, addressed the participants. They briefed the CEOs on the structure, objectives, and thematic focus of IICDEM 2026, as well as the specific roles of each CEO during the conference.
Following the address, the CEOs discussed the 36 thematic groups that they will lead at IICDEM. These groups are designed to cover all aspects of election management, aiming to develop a comprehensive body of knowledge based on the experiences of global Election Management Bodies (EMBs).
IICDEM 2026: India’s Largest Global Electoral Conference
IICDEM 2026 is expected to be the largest international conference of its kind hosted by India in the field of election management and democracy.
Nearly 100 international delegates from EMBs worldwide are expected to attend.
Participants will also include representatives from international organizations, foreign missions in India, and academic and field experts in elections.
The conference will feature:
- General and plenary sessions including the Inaugural Session, EMB Leaders’ Plenary, and EMB Working Group Meetings
- The launch of ECINET, a new initiative for election management knowledge exchange
Thematic sessions covering global electoral trends, model international electoral standards, and innovations in electoral processes
Academic and Expert Participation
IICDEM 2026 will include contributions from leading academic institutions to ensure research-backed deliberations:
- 4 IITs, 6 IIMs, 12 NLUs, and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)
- 36 thematic groups will be led by CEOs of States/UTs, supported by national and international experts in election management.
The conference is designed to share global best practices, innovative approaches, and build a knowledge base that strengthens democracy and electoral governance in India and worldwide.
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