‘India’s Chairmanship will be decisive, ambitious and action oriented.’: CEC Gyanesh Kumar

1. Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar today assumed the Chairship of the Council of Member States of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026. Ambassador of India to Sweden, Sh. Anurag Bhushan was also present on the occasion.

2. The Chairship marks a significant milestone, reflecting global recognition of the Election Commission of India as one of the world’s most credible and innovative Election Management Bodies (EMBs). India, a founding member of International IDEA, has consistently contributed to the organisation’s governance, democratic discourse and institutional initiatives.

3. Upon his arrival in Stockholm, CEC Gyanesh Kumar was received by the Ambassador of India to Sweden, Sh. Anurag Bhushan. He also had a discussion with the Secretary-General of IIDEA, Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora.

4. In his acceptance speech at Stockholm, Sweden, CEC Kumar highlighted the scale of India’s democratic exercise, noting that India has over 900 million electors across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. (full speech at Annexure-I)

5. Reflecting upon the 2024 General Elections, he informed that India witnessed a breathtaking democratic spectacle where over 20,000 candidates from 743 political parties, including 6 national and 67 state parties, participated.

6. Over 20 million election personnel including over 1 million Booth Level Officers and 5 million polling staff were engaged in the exercise.

7. Observing that India has seen 18 general elections to Parliament and more than 400 general elections to State Legislatures since independence in 1947, CEC stated that India envisions to share with all not only the learnings of the world’s largest, the most diverse and inclusive modern democracy, but also the democratic values and principles deeply enshrined in India’s civilizational heritage.

8. Affirming the direction ahead, CEC pledged that India’s Chairmanship will be decisive, ambitious and action oriented. As Chair, Shri Gyanesh Kumar will steer the Council’s work around India’s overall theme for the Chairship – “Democracy for inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world” and focus on two key pillars namely - Reimagining Democracy for the Future and Independent & Professional Election Management Bodies for Sustainable Democracy.

9. The CEC concluded his acceptance speech by stating that India will endeavour to ensure that every vote counts, every voice matters and that democracies worldwide become more inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable.

10. Alongside India in the Chairship, Mauritius and Mexico will take over as the Vice Chairs of the International IDEA Council for the year 2026. (Annexure-II)

**********

PK/GDH/RP

Annexure-I

Chairship of Council of member States of International IDEA Acceptance Speech

Dignitaries from the best democracies of the World, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

● I am from India and will therefore begin by telling you about India

● India is the mother of democracy and today, it is also the largest democracy in the world.

● The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body and conducts elections to the Office of President, Vice President, Parliament, Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils as its constitutional responsibility.

● With more than 900 million voters across 28 States and 8 Union Territories in India, the Election Commission of India has nearly 75 years of experience in conducting transparent elections & preparing accurate electoral rolls based on eligibility.

● While conducting Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India becomes the largest organisation in the world, with over 1 million personnel.

● Today, every Indian feels honoured to see India in a prestigious position as the Chair of Council of member States of International IDEA, a renowned institution comprising 35 democratic countries and 2 observer nations.

● As Chief Election Commissioner of India, I, Gyanesh Kumar, on behalf of all citizens of India, express my greetings to the representatives of all countries, and accept the Chairship of Council of member States of International IDEA.

● As the Chair, I assure you that during my tenure, with the cooperation among all democratic nations, we will work in an exemplary manner to further strengthen and enhance transparency in democracy and democratic processes across the world.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat

Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner of India

 

ANNEXURE-II

India to Chair International IDEA - 2026 (35 Member and 2 Observer Democracies)

Sl. No.	Country	Registered Electors	Sl. No.	Country	Registered Electors
1	India (to chair IIDEA - 2026)	991,000,000	20	Dominican Republic (Member)	8,145,548
2	United States (Observer)	234,504,358	21	Tunisia (Member)	7,853,447
3	Indonesia (Member)	204,421,612	22	Sweden (Member)	7,775,390
4	Brazil (Member)	155,557,422	23	Benin (Member)	6,769,817
5	Japan (Observer)	103,880,749	24	Switzerland (Member)	5,585,212
6	Mexico (Member)	98,214,289	25	Finland (Member)	4,540,437
7	Philippines (Member)	68,431,965	26	Norway (Member)	4,058,875
8	Germany (Member)	60,490,603	27	Costa Rica (Member)	3,491,078
9	France (Member)	43,328,470	28	Panama (Member)	2,757,823
10	Spain (Member)	37,467,458	29	Uruguay (Member)	2,727,120
11	Canada (Member)	28,525,638	30	Mongolia (Member)	2,089,935
12	South Africa (Member)	27,782,081	31	Namibia (Member)	1,449,569
13	Peru (Member)	25,287,954	32	Botswana (Member)	1,038,275
14	Ghana (Member)	18,774,159	33	Mauritius (Member)	1,002,857
15	Australia (Member)	18,098,797	34	Estonia (Member)	966,129
16	Chile (Member)	15,779,102	35	Cabo Verde (Member)	392,899
17	Netherlands (Member)	13,589,128	36	Luxembourg (Member)	286,711
18	Portugal (Member)	10,850,215	37	Barbados (Member)	266,330
19	Belgium (Member)	8,368,029		Total	2,225,549,481

 

(Release ID: 2198520) Visitor Counter : 358