New Delhi, Jan 23 (NationPress) The India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 wrapped up successfully in New Delhi on Friday (January 23), with the unanimous endorsement of the Delhi Declaration.

The Delhi Declaration 2026 is a robust symbol of collective determination, designed to implement these commitments through innovation, measurable actions, and enduring global collaboration to strengthen democracy for a more inclusive, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable future.

During a ceremonial presentation, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar detailed the declaration's five essential pillars: Purity of Electoral Rolls, Conduct of Elections, Research and Publications, Use of Technology, and Training and Capacity Building. These pillars outline a common framework for Election Management Bodies (EMBs) globally to boost the integrity, inclusivity, and efficiency of democratic processes, marking a significant milestone in international electoral collaboration.

Hosted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) at the Bharat Mandapam over three days from January 21 to 23, this landmark event gathered heads of 42 Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from various nations, experts from over 70 national institutions, senior ECI officials, and 36 Chief Electoral Officers from Indian states and union territories.

Under the first pillar, attendees committed to preserving pure electoral rolls by ensuring the inclusion of all eligible voters according to legal provisions and providing photo identity cards for transparent voting. The second pillar underscored the importance of participatory, inclusive, and stakeholder-driven elections conducted in strict adherence to constitutional and legal mandates to ensure transparency, efficiency, and fairness.

In terms of research and publications, the declaration resolved to create an Encyclopaedia of Democracies of the World, including an atlas of global electoral systems validated by respective EMBs, along with comprehensive reports on seven themes spearheaded by International IDEA and 36 themes coordinated by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).

The fourth pillar focused on technology integration, with EMBs committing to incorporate modern tools while ensuring electoral integrity, combating misinformation, and assisting voters.

India pledged to share its experiences through ECINET, a comprehensive digital platform launched during the conference on its second day, facilitating co-development of similar systems adapted to the legal frameworks and languages of other countries.

The fifth pillar emphasized training and capacity building, with India offering IIIDEM's resources—having trained over 10,000 Indian personnel and staff from more than 100 countries in the last 15 years—to global EMBs for professionalizing election conduct and roll preparation.

In his keynote address, CEC Kumar emphasized how the conference sparked crucial discussions on model international electoral standards and how over 40 bilateral meetings fostered mutual cooperation and shared priorities.

Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu commended the transparency, mutual respect, and eagerness to learn displayed by participants, reflecting the maturity of the global electoral community.

Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi highlighted ECINET's role in showcasing India's technological advancements, stressing the need for measured adoption that builds trust without replacing human oversight. The event commenced with a grand reception and inaugural session attended by nearly 1,000 individuals, including international delegates and heads of missions from 27 countries.

An EMB Leaders’ Plenary enabled exchanges among delegation heads and ambassadors, while 36 thematic groups, supported by academic institutions and experts, explored cross-cutting issues, best practices, and innovations.

Looking forward, EMBs committed to regularly reviewing progress on the declaration's pillars and reconvening at IIIDEM in New Delhi from December 3 to 5, 2026. This conference, the largest of its kind ever organized by India in this domain, encouraged high-level discussions on reinforcing democratic institutions and electoral processes amid contemporary challenges.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi presided over the closing session.