New Delhi is set to become the global hub for democracy and election management as the Election Commission of India (ECI) prepares to host the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026. Starting January 21 at Bharat Mandapam, this landmark three-day event from January 21 to 23 will draw over 100 delegates from more than 70 countries, marking it as India’s largest international gathering on the subject.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will inaugurate the conference, welcoming a diverse array of international delegates, representatives from global organizations, foreign missions in India, and experts from academia and practice in the electoral field.
The conference agenda is packed with high-level sessions, including plenary meetings for Election Management Bodies (EMBs), executive group meetings, and thematic discussions on pressing global electoral issues. Topics will range from model international electoral standards to innovations and best practices in election processes.
Thirty-six thematic group sessions, led by Chief Electoral Officers from states and Union Territories and supported by national and international academic experts, will delve deep into these matters. Prestigious institutions like four IITs, six IIMs, 12 National Law Universities (NLUs), and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) will contribute significantly.
Beyond discussions, the ECI plans over 40 bilateral meetings with EMBs to address shared challenges and foster collaboration. A key highlight will be the formal launch of ECINet, a comprehensive one-stop digital platform offering all election-related information and services.
An expansive exhibition will showcase the scale and complexity of conducting elections in India, spotlighting recent ECI initiatives to strengthen voter list preparation and election conduct—two pillars of the democratic process.
Kicking off the event, a documentary series titled ‘India Decides’ will premiere on the first day, offering an inside look at the orchestration of the world’s largest electoral exercise: the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
This conference underscores India’s growing leadership in global electoral integrity, promising actionable insights and strengthened international partnerships for fair and transparent democracy worldwide.