Published: 20 January 2026PIBPolitics
ECI Hosts Inaugural IICDEM 2026: Nearly 100 Delegates from 70+ Countries at Bharat Mandapam
The Election Commission of India hosted the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21-23 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Nearly 100 delegates from over 70 countries participated, making it the largest global conference on election management hosted by India.
Organized by IIIDEM (India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management), the theme was 'Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world'. The conference featured plenaries, 36 thematic working groups, the launch of the ECINet digital platform, and 40+ bilateral meetings. The docuseries 'India Decides' on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was screened on the opening day.
0Mains angle
Q: Examine the significance of India hosting the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management 2026 in projecting India as a global reference for democratic and electoral governance.
Answer (50 words):
The Election Commission of India hosted IICDEM 2026 at Bharat Mandapam from January 21 to 23, bringing nearly 100 delegates from over 70 countries. Organised by IIIDEM, the conference featured 36 thematic working groups, launched the ECINet digital platform, and held more than 40 bilateral meetings between election bodies.
6-axis classification
CoverageInternationalSubjectInternationalExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourcePIB
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Linked questionMedium
Which Article of the Constitution did CJI Surya Kant refuse to invoke on a hate speech petition?
Explanation · Correct answer ACJI refused to invoke Article 32 (right to move SC for fundamental rights enforcement).
Frequently asked questions
What is IICDEM 2026 and where was it held?
**IICDEM 2026** (India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management 2026) is the inaugural edition hosted by the **Election Commission of India (ECI)**. It was held at **Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi**, bringing together **nearly 100 international delegates from over 70 countries** to share best practices in democracy, electoral integrity, and election management technology.
What is the significance of India hosting IICDEM 2026 for the first time?
India hosting the inaugural **IICDEM 2026** reflects its standing as the world's largest democracy and a global model for **Election Management Bodies (EMBs)**. The **ECI** manages elections for over 970 million voters. The conference positions India as a thought leader in **electoral technology, voter verification, and democratic governance** for developing nations.
What was the Delhi Declaration adopted at IICDEM 2026?
The **Delhi Declaration** was adopted at the conclusion of **IICDEM 2026** by **40+ Election Management Bodies (EMBs)** from across the world. It commits signatories to principles of **electoral integrity, technology in elections, voter education**, and inter-institutional cooperation to strengthen democracy globally — a landmark document for international electoral cooperation.
What role does the Election Commission of India play in international electoral cooperation?
The **Election Commission of India (ECI)** is a member of **A-WEB** (Association of World Election Bodies) and provides technical assistance to election commissions of developing countries. Through initiatives like **IICDEM**, ECI shares its experience with EVMs, VVPAT, voter rolls digitization, and remote voting — positioning India as a global electoral technology leader.
What electoral technologies did India showcase at IICDEM 2026?
**IICDEM 2026** showcased India's innovations: **EVM (Electronic Voting Machine)** — used nationally since 1999, **VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail)**, the **ERONET** voter registration platform, **cVIGIL app** for real-time violation reporting, and the **Suvidha portal** for political party permissions — all cited as scalable models for other democracies.
