India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to Chair International IDEA in 2026

Mumbai, Nov 2025 : India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, is set to assume the chairmanship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026. He will formally take charge during the council meeting of member countries scheduled on December 3, 2025, in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. For the coming year, he will preside over all major conferences and meetings of the organisation.

Established in 1995, International IDEA is an intergovernmental organisation committed to strengthening democratic processes across the world. It currently has 35 member countries, with the United States and Japan serving as observer states. The organisation’s primary mission is to promote inclusive, resilient, and accountable democratic systems.

India securing the chairmanship is considered a significant recognition of the global stature of its Election Commission. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is widely known as one of the world’s most reliable and innovative election management bodies. India is also a founding member of International IDEA and has made notable contributions to various democratic initiatives over the years.

As Chair, CEC Gyanesh Kumar intends to share India’s extensive experience in conducting the world’s largest elections. The collaboration is expected to enhance knowledge exchange, professional networking, and evidence-based global electoral reforms among election management bodies worldwide.

With nearly one billion voters, India’s transparent and well-organised electoral system is considered a benchmark globally. Over the next year, India will share its best practices, innovations, and institutional knowledge at the international level.

Joint programmes, workshops, and research initiatives will be undertaken between India’s training institute — the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) — and International IDEA. This partnership is expected to play a crucial role in addressing global challenges such as misinformation, electoral violence, and declining voter trust.

Since its establishment, IIIDEM has trained election officials from around the world. It has signed Memoranda of Understanding with 28 countries and has trained 3,169 election officials from 142 nations.

Under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the ECI and International IDEA will jointly work to document and promote India’s technical and administrative innovations and best practices at the global level, the Election Commission of India said in a press statement.