New Delhi, Apr 8: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday commenced the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 in view of the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
The programme was inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi.
In his address, the CEC said that elections in India are treated as “festivals of democracy” and are conducted in a mission mode to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and efficiency. He encouraged the visiting delegates to experience India’s diversity while observing the electoral process.
A total of 43 delegates from 23 countries, including representatives from five foreign missions in Delhi, are participating in the first phase of the programme. They were given a demonstration of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) operations and also participated in a mock poll to gain hands-on experience.
During the first phase, scheduled on April 8 and 9, delegates will visit Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry to observe election preparations, including dispatch centres, district control rooms, and media monitoring centres. They will also witness the polling process on April 9.
In the second phase, beginning April 20, the delegates will visit West Bengal and Tamil Nadu to further observe electoral practices.
The IEVP, a flagship initiative of the ECI, aims to strengthen international cooperation and engagement with Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and global organizations. It provides participants with insights into India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and best practices in managing elections in the world’s largest democracy.