New Delhi : The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, will assume the Chairship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026.
He will officially take over on December 3, 2025, at the Council of Member States meeting of International IDEA in Stockholm, Sweden. As Chair, he will preside over all council meetings throughout 2026.
International IDEA, established in 1995, is an inter-governmental organisation that works to strengthen democratic institutions and processes worldwide. It currently has 35 member countries, with the United States and Japan as observers. The organisation promotes inclusive, resilient, and accountable democracies.
Shri Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment marks a significant recognition of India’s Election Commission as one of the world’s most credible and innovative Election Management Bodies (EMBs). India, a founding member of IIDEA, has actively contributed to the organisation’s governance, democratic dialogue, and institutional initiatives.
As Chair, Shri Kumar will bring India’s experience in conducting the world’s largest elections, shaping IIDEA’s global agenda. This collaboration will strengthen knowledge-sharing, enhance networks among EMBs, and support evidence-based electoral reforms worldwide.
India, with nearly a billion voters and well-established transparent electoral processes, will share its best practices with EMBs globally. Joint programmes, workshops, and research collaborations between India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) and IIDEA will improve global readiness to tackle challenges such as disinformation, electoral violence, and declining voter trust.
Since its inception, IIIDEM has trained election officials in India and abroad, signing MoUs with 28 countries and training 3,169 officials from 142 countries. Under Shri Gyanesh Kumar’s leadership, IIDEA and ECI will work together to document and share India’s technological and administrative innovations internationally.
Member Countries of International IDEA include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, and 35 countries in total.