ECI Holds Conference of Chief Electoral Officers Ahead of IICDEM 2026 Preparations

Raipur, January 2026 : As part of preparations for the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday organised a conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi.

The conference was held in connection with the forthcoming IICDEM 2026, which is scheduled to take place from January 21 to 23, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event is being positioned as a major global platform for discussions on democracy and election management.

Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, addressed the participants during the conference. They briefed the CEOs on the framework, objectives and detailed planning of IICDEM 2026, while also outlining the specific roles and responsibilities assigned to them for the successful conduct of the international conference.

Following the inaugural addresses, the Chief Electoral Officers held deliberations on 36 thematic groups that will be led by the respective CEOs during IICDEM 2026. These thematic groups encompass all major aspects of election management and are aimed at developing a comprehensive knowledge repository by drawing upon the rich and diverse experiences of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the world.

IICDEM 2026 is expected to be the largest global conference of its kind hosted by India in the field of election management and democratic practices. Nearly 100 international delegates representing Election Management Bodies from different countries will participate in the conference. The event will also see the presence of representatives from international organisations, foreign diplomatic missions based in India, and academic as well as practitioner experts associated with the electoral domain.

The three-day conference will feature a mix of general and plenary sessions, including the inaugural session, a plenary of EMB leaders, meetings of EMB working groups, and the launch of ‘ECINET’. In addition, several thematic breakout sessions will be organised, focusing on global electoral issues, international electoral standards, and best practices and innovations in electoral processes worldwide.

Leading academic institutions will also play a key role in the conference. Four Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), 12 National Law Universities (NLUs), and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) are among the prominent institutions participating in IICDEM 2026. The 36 thematic groups, led by the CEOs of states and Union Territories, along with national and international academic experts, will contribute to in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing during the conference.