Page 17 - NIS English 16-31 Jan, 2026

COVER STORY

National Voters’ Day Special

Global role

Election Commission of India playing a significant role internationally

The Election Commission of India not
only ensures free and fair elections in
India but is also playing a crucial role
in strengthening democratic electoral
processes worldwide. India has emerged
as a global leader in the field of election
management.
India has been a founding member
of International IDEA since 1995.
This organization works to strengthen
democracy and electoral institutions
worldwide. In 2026, India’s Chief Election
Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, will be its
Council Chair. During this period, India’s
focus will be on “inclusive, peaceful,
Training provided to participants from 142 countries robust and sustainable democracy,” and
sharing India’s electoral experience with
The Commission has signed agreements with election the world through IIIDEM.
management bodies of 28 countries and three international
organizations. The India International Institute of Democracy
and Election Management was established in June 2011.
During these 15 years, this institution has organized
international-level training programs in which approximately
3170 participants from 142 countries have participated. The Election
Election Commission has sent its observers and experts Anecdotes
to countries like Egypt, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Mexico, Namibia, and Guinea.
Team deployed to
protect against jumbos
The incident occurred in the 55 Salmanpa-
they would only vote according to the head of the family. To ra polling area of Meghalaya. In the 2014
this, Babasaheb replied, “That is not the case. Indian women Lok Sabha elections, forest department
are intelligent, and when they participate, democracy will be officials had to hold an emergency meeting
strengthened.” Today, the results are visible, with women to keep elephants away from this polling
participating in large numbers in the voting process. area. After the meeting, it was decided that
five teams of forest personnel would be
SPECIAL INTENSIVE REVISION: THE BASIS OF deployed in the places where elephants
PURIFICATION could cause trouble to protect the 19 poll-
ing stations from them.
What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? If a voter is deceased,
then his name should be removed from the voter list. Those
who have turned 18 should have their names added. Those
who are registered as voters in more than one place should
have their names removed, and the names of foreign nation-
als should be carefully removed. This is intensive revision. This
is the purification of the electoral roll. Due to rapid urban-
ization, migration for education and employment, and other
socio-economic changes, citizens’ places of residence change