The Election Commission of India on Thursday convened a conference of Chief Electoral Officers in New Delhi as part of preparations for the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM 2026), scheduled from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, briefed participating CEOs on the structure, thematic focus and operational responsibilities linked to the global event.
During the conference, CEOs discussed 36 thematic groups that will form the core of discussions at IICDEM 2026. The themes span various aspects of election management and are aimed at developing a structured knowledge base drawing from the experiences of Election Management Bodies worldwide.
IICDEM 2026 is expected to be the largest international gathering hosted by India in the field of election management and democracy. Nearly 100 international delegates representing election bodies, global institutions, foreign missions and academic experts are set to participate.
The three-day meet will feature plenary sessions including the Inaugural Session, EMB Leaders’ Plenary and Working Group Meetings, along with the launch of ECINET. Around 40 bilateral meetings and 36 breakout sessions are also scheduled.
The event will see participation from premier academic institutions, including four IITs, six IIMs, twelve National Law Universities and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Thematic groups will be co-led by state/UT CEOs and national and international academics.
The Election Commission said the conference aims to foster collaboration, share best practices and contribute to the evolution of global electoral standards and innovations.
