India Takes Leadership of International IDEA Council

On 3rd December 2025, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar assumed the chairship of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), marking India’s election as chair for the year 2026.

India has been chosen as the new chair of International IDEA’s governing council, reaffirming its role as one of the 14 founding member states committed to strengthening global democratic institutions.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar formally took over the chairship during a ceremony held in Stockholm, where Ambassador of India to Sweden, Anurag Bhushan, was also present.
In his address, the CEC highlighted the vast scale of India’s democratic framework, noting that the country currently has over 900 million registered electors across 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
He highlighted India’s electoral legacy, sharing that the nation has conducted 18 general elections to the Lok Sabha and more than 400 elections to State Legislative Assemblies since independence in 1947.