New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will take over as Chairperson of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for 2026. He will formally assume the role on 3 December during the meeting of the Council of Member States in Stockholm, Sweden, where he will preside over all council meetings throughout the year.

International IDEA, founded in 1995, is an inter-governmental organisation focused on strengthening democratic institutions and processes worldwide. It currently has 35 member countries, with the United States and Japan serving as observers, and works to promote inclusive and accountable democratic systems.

An official statement issued on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, described Kumar’s appointment as global recognition of the Election Commission of India’s credibility and innovation in election management. India, a founding member of International IDEA, has played an active role in the organisation’s governance, policy discussions and institutional development.

“As the Chairperson, Mr. Kumar will leverage the country’s unmatched experience of conducting the world’s largest elections to shape IIDEA’s global agenda. The collaboration will strengthen knowledge-sharing, reinforce professional networks among EMBs, and support evidence-based global electoral reforms”, the statement said.

BI Bureau