The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, has participated in the three-day India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management, held in New Delhi from January 21 to 23, 2026.
The high-level conference was organised by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). The event coincided with the assumption of office of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. Gyanesh Kumar, as Chair of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026.
The opening session, held at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, featured welcome remarks by the Director-General of IIIDEM, followed by the screening of India Decides, a documentary showcasing the evolution of India’s electoral system and the extensive measures adopted by the ECI to ensure credible and peaceful elections.
In his address, the Secretary-General of International IDEA, Dr. Kevin Casa-Zamora, explained that the conference was convened to mark India’s chairship of the IDEA Council.
He highlighted the conference theme, “Democracy for an Inclusive, Peaceful, Resilient and Sustainable World,” noting that it was designed to foster a shared global vision on the challenges facing Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and to promote best practices in election administration, in line with India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—“the world is one family.”
Discussions at the conference were structured around two core themes: Reimagining Democracy for the Future, and Independent and Professional Election Management Bodies as Foundations for Sustainable Democracy.
Over the three days, participants engaged in plenary sessions, closed-door leadership meetings and thematic discussions covering the entire electoral cycle.
Issues examined included legal and institutional frameworks, voter registration, political participation, campaign regulation, polling and collation processes, election technology, as well as emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, misinformation, electoral risk management, sustainability and democratic inclusion.
The conference attracted about 500 national and international delegates, including chairpersons and senior officials of EMBs, academics and electoral experts from institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and National Law Universities (NLUs), alongside other democracy and governance stakeholders.
Professor Amupitan was accompanied by the Acting Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), INEC, Professor Ibrahim Sani. Speaking at a plenary session on laws and rules governing electoral democracies, the INEC Chairman expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage with global election administrators.
He examined the potential and limitations of legal regulation in democratic governance, stressing the need for balanced, enforceable and context-sensitive legal frameworks that enhance electoral integrity while protecting democratic freedoms.
The conference provided a valuable platform for peer learning and international cooperation, reinforcing INEC’s commitment to continuous improvement through the adoption of global best practices in election management.
