The Election Commission of India has launched the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 in New Delhi today. According to reports, the three-day event is set to be the largest global conference of its kind hosted by India, focusing on democracy and electoral management.
Nearly 100 international delegates from over 70 countries are expected to attend the conference. Participants will include representatives from international organisations, foreign missions in India, as well as scholars and experts in electoral management.
As part of the conference, the Commission will conduct over 40 bilateral meetings with Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to foster dialogue and collaboration on shared global electoral challenges. The programme includes a series of general and plenary sessions, such as the Inaugural Session, the EMB Leaders’ Plenary, and EMB Working Group Meetings.
Thematic sessions will highlight key global electoral issues, international best practices, and innovations in election processes. An exhibition running alongside the conference will showcase the scale and complexity of elections in India, along with recent initiatives by the Election Commission to strengthen electoral systems. Additionally, the docuseries India Decides, which chronicles the conduct of India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the world’s largest democratic exercise, will be screened today.
