The Election Commission will host the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 in New Delhi from today. Our correspondent reports that the three-day conference is poised to be the largest global conference of its kind hosted by India in the field of democracy and election management.

 

 

Nearly one hundred international delegates representing over 70 countries from across the world are expected to participate in the three-day conference. The event will also see the participation of representatives from international organisations and foreign missions based in India, as well as academic scholars and practising experts in the field of electoral management.

 

During the conference, the Commission will hold over 40 bilateral meetings with various Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to deepen dialogue and cooperation on shared electoral challenges faced globally. The three-day programme will feature a series of general and plenary sessions involving Election Management Bodies, including the Inaugural Session, the EMB Leaders’ Plenary, and EMB Working Group Meetings.

 

In addition, thematic sessions will focus on key global electoral issues, model international electoral standards, and innovations and best practices in electoral processes. An exhibition will be organised alongside the conference, showcasing the scale and complexity of conducting elections in India, with recent initiatives undertaken by the Election Commission of India to strengthen the two pillars of elections. The docuseries India Decides, highlighting the making of the largest election in the world, the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, will also be showcased today.