Bokaro: Election officials from Jharkhand played a visible role at the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, which commenced at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on January 21. The three-day conference, hosted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), has brought together nearly 100 delegates from over 70 countries to deliberate on contemporary challenges and best practices in election administration.
K Ravi Kumar highlighted Jharkhand’s experiences
Jharkhand’s Chief Electoral Officer, K. Ravi Kumar, emerged as a key contributor during the thematic session on Voter Registration and Voter Registers, a core pillar of democratic participation. Moderating and presenting in the session, Ravi Kumar highlighted Jharkhand’s experiences in maintaining accurate and inclusive electoral rolls amid population mobility, urban expansion and the integration of digital tools. He underlined the importance of transparent procedures and continuous registration to sustain public trust in electoral processes.
Participation of international experts
The session drew participation from international experts and officials from the Maldives, the Philippines and leading academic institutions, including the Central University of Jharkhand and St Xavier’s College, Ranchi, enabling a comparative exchange of global practices.
40 bilateral meetings and 36 breakout sessions
The conference was inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Over the three days, more than 40 bilateral meetings and 36 breakout sessions are scheduled, alongside an exhibition on India’s election management scale and screenings from the documentary series India Decides.
Jharkhand’s growing engagement in capacity-building initiatives
Another Jharkhand officers including, Prabhash Kumar Dutta, Land Reforms Deputy Collector (LRDC), Bokaro, and Mritunjay Kumar, DTO of Dumka, represented the State as part of the National Level Master Trainers (NLMT) delegation. Their participation reflects Jharkhand’s growing engagement in capacity-building initiatives and international knowledge-sharing platforms facilitated by the ECI and the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).
From Jharkhand, Rajesh Ranjan Verma (NLMT), Mahendra Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Agriculture Department, Sunil Kumar Singh, SEO, Headquarters, Cabinet (Election) Department, Ranchi, Kumud Kumar Jha, Under Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Ranchi, Sailesh Kumar Singh, Deputy Election Officer, Deoghar, Prabhash Kumar Dutta, Land Reforms Deputy Collector, Chas, Bokaro, and Mrityunjay Kumar, District Transport Officer, Dumka, participated in the conference.
Jharkhand’s active presence at IICDEM-2026 underscores the State’s contribution to national and global conversations on strengthening democratic institutions and electoral integrity.
