Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has assumed the chairship of the council of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for 2026.
India has been elected as the new chair of the council of member states of International IDEA for 2026. The chairship is rotational among council members and will remain with India until 2033. India is one of the 14 founding member states of the organisation.
According to an official statement from the Election Commission of India (ECI), Kumar assumed the chairship in Stockholm, Sweden. Ambassador of India to Sweden, Anurag Bhushan, was present during the ceremony.
“The chairship marks a milestone, reflecting global recognition of the Election Commission of India as one of the world’s most credible and innovative Election Management Bodies (EMBs). India, as a founding member of International IDEA, has consistently contributed to the organisation’s governance, democratic discourse, and institutional initiatives,” the ECI said.
In his acceptance speech, Kumar highlighted the scale of India’s democratic exercise, noting the country has over 900 million electors across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. He also pointed out that India has conducted 18 general elections to Parliament and more than 400 elections to State Legislatures since independence in 1947.
“India aims to share not only the learnings of the world’s largest democracy but also the democratic values and principles deeply rooted in our civilisational heritage,” Kumar said.
He added, “With more than 900 million voters across 28 States and 8 Union Territories, the Election Commission of India has nearly 75 years of experience in conducting transparent elections and preparing accurate electoral rolls based on eligibility. As the Chair, I assure that during my tenure, with the cooperation of all democratic nations, we will work to further strengthen and enhance transparency in democracy and democratic processes across the world.”
-ANI