Election Commission holds conference of Chief Electoral Officers

New Delhi, Jan 08, 2026 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) today held a conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in New Delhi. This meeting was held in the run-up to the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) to be held from the 21st to the 23rd of this month at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi apprised the participants about the nuances of IICDEM 2026 and their specific roles.

During the conference, the CEOs also discussed the 36 thematic groups that will be led by respective CEOs at IICDEM 2026. The themes encompass all aspects of election management and are aimed at developing a body of knowledge building on the rich and varied experiences of the EMBs. IICDEM 2026 will be the largest global conference of its kind hosted by India in the field of election management and democracy. It will be attended by nearly 100 international delegates representing Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the world.

Representatives from international organisations, foreign missions in India, and academic experts will also participate in the event. The conference will also see participation from leading academic institutions, including 4 IITs, 6 IIMs, 12 NLUs and IIMC, with 36 thematic groups led by CEOs of States and Union Territories and national and international academic experts contributing to deliberations.