Gyanesh Kumar Takes Charge of IDEA Council | 04 Dec 2025

Why in News?

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, formally assumed the Chairmanship of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for the year 2026, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Key Points

• Background: International IDEA, established in 1995, now has 35 member countries, with the United States and Japan as observers, and has held observer status at the United Nations General Assembly since 2003.
• Partnerships: Alongside India’s leadership, Mauritius and Mexico will serve as Vice-Chairs of the International IDEA Council for 2026. 
• Milestone: The Chairmanship represents a significant global milestone, acknowledging the Election Commission of India (ECI) as one of the world’s most credible, transparent, and innovative Election Management Bodies (EMBs), with India being a founding member contributing consistently to IDEA’s governance and democratic initiatives.
• Vision: CEC Gyanesh Kumar pledged that India’s Chairmanship would be decisive, ambitious, and action-oriented, guided by the theme “Democracy for Inclusive, Peaceful, Resilient and Sustainable World”, with focus on two pillars: Reimagining Democracy for the Future and Independent & Professional Election Management Bodies for Sustainable Democracy.