International IDEA in 2026

On 3rd December 2026, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will formally assume the chairmanship of International IDEA, marking global recognition of India’s electoral expertise and democratic processes.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will represent the Election Commission of India as he assumes the chair, positioning India to play a central role in guiding the organisation’s global democratic initiatives.
International IDEA, established in 1995, is an inter-governmental body dedicated to promoting democracy, electoral integrity, and institutional strengthening across its 35 member states and observers.
India, a founding member, has consistently contributed to International IDEA through electoral research, capacity-building programmes, and support for strengthening election management bodies worldwide.
The organisation’s decision to elevate India to the chairmanship underscores global confidence in the ECI’s ability to conduct free, fair and transparent elections for an electorate of more than 90 crore voters.