Context: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is hosting the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 in New Delhi. The three-day global conference is being held at Bharat Mandapam and brings together Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the world to exchange best practices in electoral governance.
About IICDEM 2026
- A global platform on democracy and election management, focused on institutional learning and peer exchange.
- Organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of the ECI.
- Aims to position India as a norm-setter in election administration, especially for emerging democracies.
Key Focus Areas of the Conference
1. Electoral Roll Integrity
• Showcasing India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a best practice.
• Focus on removing duplication, ensuring inclusion, and maintaining accuracy.
• Addresses challenges such as migration, urbanisation, and demographic changes.
2. Election Technology & Innovation
• Discussions on technology-enabled elections, including digital roll management, polling logistics, and result dissemination.
• Emphasis on balancing technology adoption with electoral integrity, transparency, and trust.
About IIIDEM
- Training and capacity-building arm of the Election Commission of India.
• Established in 2011 to professionalise election administration and democratic processes. - Located at an independent campus in Dwarka, New Delhi.
- Has conducted 1300+ national training programmes and trained 2800+ international participants, making it a key hub for global election management learning.
Election Commission of India: Constitutional Position
- Article 324 grants ECI superintendence, direction, and control over elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.
- Elections are governed under Part XV of the Constitution (Articles 324–329).
- A multi-member constitutional body comprising the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners.
- Autonomy Safeguards:
– CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge.
– Election Commissioners can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC.
Significance of IICDEM 2026
- Democratic Diplomacy: Positions India as a global exporter of electoral best practices.
- Soft Power Expansion: Enhances India’s credibility as the world’s largest democracy.
- South–South Cooperation: Supports capacity-building in developing democracies.
- Countering Disinformation: Reinforces trust-based, rule-driven election systems amid global democratic backsliding.
- Institutional Learning: Allows ECI to assimilate global innovations while showcasing Indian reforms.
Conclusion
By convening IICDEM 2026, India is transitioning from being a successful electoral practitioner to a global thought leader in election management. The initiative reinforces India’s constitutional commitment to free and fair elections while strengthening democratic resilience worldwide.