Chandigarh, Jan 21
The Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted a formal reception ceremony today to welcome Heads of Delegations from various countries as part of the ongoing India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026.
The three-day conference, organized by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the ECI, commenced at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on January 21, 2026.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, personally greeted nearly 60 international delegates during the ceremony.
The event featured highlights from the upcoming docuseries “India Decides”, produced in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. Attendees viewed compelling glimpses of the series, which showcases the intricacies of India’s massive general elections and the operations of one of the world’s most complex electoral institutions.
The grand inaugural session drew around 1,000 participants, including representatives from 42 Election Management Bodies (EMBs), Ambassadors and High Commissioners from 27 countries, experts from more than 70 national institutions, senior ECI officials, and 36 Chief Electoral Officers from across India.
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In his welcome address, CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar highlighted the remarkable evolution of election management bodies over recent decades. He emphasized India’s unique position as the world’s largest democracy, managing elections across 28 states and 8 union territories for a population of 1.5 billion.
EC Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu underscored the sacred trust citizens place in EMBs, noting that every election centers on the individual voter, whose choice must be honored and safeguarded as a shared global responsibility.
EC Dr. Vivek Joshi described IICDEM-2026 as a vital platform uniting EMBs, researchers, students, and practitioners to exchange diverse perspectives and strengthen electoral institutions.
DG IIIDEM Shri Rakesh Verma elaborated on the conference theme—“Democracy for an Inclusive, Peaceful, Resilient, and Sustainable World”—describing it as a comprehensive vision for democracy’s role in addressing 21st-century challenges.
Managing Director of Warner Bros. Discovery, Shri Arjun Nohwar, spoke about how “India Decides” uses powerful storytelling and visuals to portray the scale and complexity of India’s electoral process.
This landmark event marks a significant step in global cooperation on democracy and election management.
