EC to showcase SIR as step to strengthen electoral process | India News
NEW DELHI: The ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls — being carried out with the declared intent of including all genuine electors and weeding out ineligible ones — will be showcased as a key initiative of EC to strengthen the electoral process at an international conference to be hosted by the poll panel here.Nearly 100 delegates from 70 countries will converge for the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from Jan 21 to 23 to brainstorm various aspects of democracy and electoral management.EC, in a curtain-raiser on the event, said, “An exhibition showcasing the magnitude and complexity of conducting polls in India, along with recent initiatives taken by EC to strengthen the two pillars of elections, preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of polls, will also be held alongside the events”.SIR — which opposition parties allege is an exercise to inconvenience and disenfranchise electors, particularly those belonging to minority groups and weaker sections — has seen over 6.5 crore voters being deleted in draft electoral rolls of 12 states and UTs in Phase 2. SIR’s Phase 1 in Bihar had shed over 65 lakh electors from its roll.IICDEM-2026 is poised to be the largest global conference of its kind hosted by India on issues pertaining to the electoral domain. Chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with election commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will receive the delegates and flag off proceedings at the inaugural session on Jan 21.The agenda includes general and plenary sessions of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the world, besides thematic sessions focused on global electoral issues, model international electoral standards, and innovations and best practices in electoral processes.Thirty-six thematic groups, led by state/UT chief electoral officers (CEOs) and supported by national and international academic experts, will contribute to in-depth deliberations. EC will hold over 40 bilateral meetings with EMBs to further discussions and cooperation on various challenges confronting EMBs around the world. The panel will also formally launch ECINET, one-stop digital platform for all poll related information and services. The docu-series ‘India Decides’, highlighting making of largest election in the world, the 2024 LS polls, will be showcased on the first day.
