IIIDEM turns 15: Electoral body hosts national conference on capacity building
Synopsis
IIIDEM turned 15 this week — and the numbers tell the story: 1,885 training programmes, 1.2 lakh participants, outreach across 142 countries. The two-day New Delhi conference wasn't just a celebration; it was a strategic reset, with a draft National Training Policy and expanded global ambitions on the table as India's electoral machine prepares for its next cycle.
Key Takeaways
IIIDEM celebrated its 15th Foundation Day on 18 June 2025 in New Delhi .
The two-day conference attracted more than 450 participants , including 250 Master Trainers and 30 ECI officials .
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar noted IIIDEM's role in training nearly 1.8 crore election officials for the Lok Sabha elections.
Since 2011 , IIIDEM has run 1,885 training programmes reaching over 1.2 lakh participants across 142 countries .
A draft National Training Policy was deliberated, with finalisation expected in the coming months.
The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) marked its 15th Foundation Day on 18 June 2025 in New Delhi, hosting a two-day Conference on Capacity Building and Strategic Roadmap that drew more than 450 participants from across the country. The event served as a milestone review of the institute's electoral training mandate and a forward-looking exercise to chart its next phase of growth.
Who Attended and What Was Covered
The conference, held on 17 and 18 June, brought together 250 National and State-Level Master Trainers, academic partners, 80 IIIDEM representatives, 30 officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI), and 100 Booth Level Officer (BLO) Supervisors from the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi. Deliberations spanned four strategic pillars: strengthening national training programmes, expanding global engagements, promoting research and knowledge development, and advancing sustainable democracy practices.
What Senior Officials Said
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed the plenary session, congratulating the IIIDEM team on completing 15 years of electoral training and management. He highlighted the institute's critical role during the Lok Sabha elections, noting that IIIDEM bears the responsibility of training nearly 1.8 crore election officials to ensure adherence to the Constitution, electoral laws, and ECI instructions.
Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi underscored the institute's growing international stature, stating that IIIDEM has the potential to continue serving as a globally recognised centre for election management training even beyond India's current chairship of International IDEA. Director General Rakesh Verma described IIIDEM as a unique platform that brings together experienced election practitioners, academicians, and researchers to foster knowledge-sharing and innovation.
Key Agenda Items
The first day featured deliberations on a draft National Training Policy, training standards at the state, district, and assembly levels, and new programmes for Election Management Bodies. Participants also reviewed scripts for training videos and awareness skits aimed at grassroots election functionaries and voter education initiatives.
The second day focused on Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes for State Training Nodal Officers, National Level Master Trainers, and State Level Master Trainers, alongside a review of thematic group initiatives by academic experts and a special Foundation Day function of the ECI.
15 Years of Impact: The Numbers
Since its inception in 2011, IIIDEM has conducted 1,885 training programmes, reaching more than 1.2 lakh participants through both online and offline platforms. The institute's international outreach now spans 142 countries, reflecting its evolution from a domestic training body into a globally recognised election management resource. This trajectory places IIIDEM among a small set of institutions worldwide that combine practitioner-led training with academic research in democratic governance.
What Comes Next
The conference outcomes are expected to feed into a revised national training architecture, with the draft National Training Policy likely to be finalised in the coming months. As India's electoral ecosystem grows in scale and complexity, IIIDEM's capacity to train election officials at every tier — from booth-level supervisors to senior ECI officers — will remain central to the integrity of future elections.
Point of View
But the more consequential number is 1.8 crore — the election officials it must train before each general election cycle. The draft National Training Policy, if finalised with measurable standards, could be the institute's most durable contribution yet. India's elections are the world's largest logistical exercise, and the quality of booth-level training directly shapes voter experience and process integrity. The international outreach across 142 countries is a soft-power asset that deserves more policy attention than it typically receives.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IIIDEM and why is it significant?
IIIDEM, or the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, is a specialised institution under the Election Commission of India that trains election officials at all levels. Since its founding in 2011, it has conducted 1,885 training programmes reaching over 1.2 lakh participants across 142 countries, making it one of the world's leading election management training bodies.
What was discussed at the IIIDEM Foundation Day conference?
The two-day conference in New Delhi on 17-18 June 2025 covered a draft National Training Policy, training standards at state, district, and assembly levels, Training of Trainers programmes, and new initiatives for Election Management Bodies. Participants also reviewed voter education materials and thematic research by academic experts.
How many election officials does IIIDEM train for general elections?
According to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, IIIDEM bears responsibility for training nearly 1.8 crore election officials to ensure adherence to the Constitution, electoral laws, and ECI instructions during the Lok Sabha elections.
What is IIIDEM's international role?
IIIDEM's outreach now spans 142 countries, and Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi noted it has the potential to remain a globally recognised centre for election management training beyond India's current chairship of International IDEA.
What is the National Training Policy being discussed?
The draft National Training Policy deliberated at the conference aims to standardise electoral training across state, district, and assembly levels in India. It is expected to be finalised in the coming months and will shape how election officials are trained ahead of future elections.
