THE AMAN SANDESH TIMES
New Delhi :
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, currently on an official visit to Sweden, is set to deliver the inaugural keynote address at the prestigious International IDEA Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity, which begins tomorrow and runs from June 10 to 12, 2025.
Organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in collaboration with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish Election Authority, and the Australian Electoral Commission, the conference brings together over 100 delegates from around 50 countries. The global forum will deliberate on contemporary challenges to electoral integrity, including disinformation, digital disruption, electoral security, climate-related risks, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in elections.
Highlighting India’s stature as the world’s largest democracy and a global leader in election management, Shri Gyanesh Kumar’s keynote is expected to underline India’s electoral innovations, inclusive practices, and use of technology in enhancing democratic participation.
During his visit, the CEC had a warm and memorable interaction with members of the Indian Diaspora in Sweden, where he emphasized the Election Commission’s commitment to inclusive civic engagement and overseas voter participation. He spoke about key initiatives such as the Online Voter Registration System and the Electronic Transmission of Postal Ballot Management System (ETPBMS) aimed at empowering Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs).
On the sidelines of the conference, Shri Gyanesh Kumar is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with several top international counterparts. He will meet International IDEA Secretary General Kevin Casas-Zamora, followed by bilateral discussions with Chief Election Commissioners and senior officials from nearly 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, Mongolia, and Switzerland. These meetings will reinforce India’s commitment to democratic cooperation and the exchange of global best practices in electoral management.
The Indian delegation led by Shri Gyanesh Kumar includes Shri Rakesh Verma, Director General of the India International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM); Shri Vijay Kumar Pandey, DDG (Law); and Shri Rahul Sharma, Principal Secretary, ECI.
India’s long-standing partnership with International IDEA has seen active contributions to the global democratic discourse. Through institutions like IIIDEM, India continues to build international electoral capacity and promote excellence in democratic governance.
