New Delhi, Jan 8: The Election Commission of India (ECI) held a conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi, as part of preparations for the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026.
The global conference is scheduled to be held from January 21 to 23, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, addressed the CEOs and briefed them on the framework of IICDEM 2026 and their respective responsibilities in organising the event. During the conference, the CEOs discussed 36 thematic groups that will be led by officers from different States and Union Territories at IICDEM 2026. The themes span all major aspects of election management and aim to build a comprehensive body of knowledge drawing on the diverse experiences of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide.
According to the ECI, IICDEM 2026 will be the largest international conference hosted by India in the field of democracy and election management. It is expected to be attended by around 100 international delegates representing EMBs from various countries, along with representatives of international organisations, foreign missions in India, and academic and professional experts. The conference will feature plenary and general sessions, including the inaugural session, EMB leaders’ plenary, working group meetings, and the launch of ECINET.
