Raipur, January 21, 2026/The plenary session held under the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) – 2026, organized at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, saw participation from heads of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of 42 countries.
The proceedings of the plenary session were inaugurated by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi. Approximately 60 international delegates participated in this session, including heads of EMBs from various countries, along with ambassadors and high commissioners.
This plenary session proved to be an important platform for high-level deliberations and exchange of experiences in the field of democracy and election management, bringing together top leadership of EMBs, senior officials, and diplomatic representatives.
During the session, thematic priorities set by India for the year 2026 were shared under the chairmanship of International IDEA. On this occasion, EMB leaders and representatives from various countries expressed their views on the global challenges, innovations, and best practices facing democracy and election administration.
