NEW DELHI: Around 100 international delegates representing 42 election management bodies (EMBs) from across the world will gather here to discuss ‘democracy for an inclusive, resilient and sustainable world’ at the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) to be hosted by Election Commission from Jan 21 to 23.The three-day conference, being organised by India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of EC, is being touted as the largest global conference of its kind in the field of election management and democracy. It will be attended by representatives from international organisations, foreign missions in India, and academic and practising experts in the field of elections.The conference will carry forward agenda laid out by chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar upon India’s assumption of chairship of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for the year 2026, anchored in the theme ‘Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world’.Outlining the broad contours of IICDEM 2026, IIIDEM director general Rakesh Verma on Wednesday told newspersons that the conference will serve as a global platform for international cooperation among EMBs, enabling the development of a shared understanding of contemporary challenges, exchange of best practices and innovations, and co-creation of solutions. The SIR of electoral roll underway in various Indian states and UTs, aimed at including all eligible electors and excluding the ineligible ones, may form part of the discussions focused on the sharing of best practices. During the media briefing at IIIDEM campus, the official logo of IICDEM 2026 was also unveiled.During the conference, ECI, comprising the CEC and election commissioners, will be holding over 40 bilateral meetings with the heads of participating EMBs and other international delegates.
