CEC Gyanesh Kumar addresses International IDEA Conference in Stockholm

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, delivered the keynote address at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) International Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on 10th June 2025. 

Gyanesh Kumar also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Mexico, Croatia, Indonesia, South Africa, Switzerland, Moldova, Lithuania, Mongolia, Mauritius, Germany, Ukraine and the United Kingdom at the sidelines of the Conference.

Who Organised the International Conference on Electoral Integrity?

• The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) organised the International Conference on Electoral Integrity in Stockholm from 10-12 June 2025.
• Election Management Bodies of over 50 countries participated in the Stockholm conference.

Gyanesh Kumar Highlights the Complexity of Indian Electoral System 

During his keynote address, CEC Gyanesh Kumar highlighted the complexity of the Indian electoral system.

• During the 2024 parliamentary election, the Election Commission of India, with over 2 crore personnel, became the world’s largest organisation.
• There were 173 million electors in India in 1951-52 compared to 979 million in 2024. 
• Polling stations have grown from 2 lakhs in 1951-52 to around 10.50 lakhs in 2024.
• The ECI manages elections in India with a single voter polling station in Banej, Gir forest, Gujarat, to the highest altitude stations like Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh.
• He also highlighted the complexity of conducting a credible and smooth election in a country with over 969 million voters.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)

Established in 1995.

It is the only International intergovernmental organisation that works to support democracy in the world.

It has been granted observer status in the United Nations.

India is a founding member of the International IDEA.

Function of International IDEA

• The International IDEA mandate is to promote sustainable democracy around the world.
• The organisation supports sustainable democratic change in a country by helping in democratic reforms, providing comparative knowledge, and influencing a country’s policies and politics.

Members 

31 countries;  India, Belgium, Australia, Barbados,, Benin, Botswana, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica,  Dominican Republic,  Brazil, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Mauritius, Switzerland, Mexico, Namibia, Netherlands, Uruguay, Ghana, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Mongolia, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.

India is the founding member of the International IDEA.

Headquarters - Stockholm, Sweden 

Chair - Switzerland