**Executive Summary**
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched Phase-II of the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 for the Legislative Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Inaugurated on April 21, 2026, the programme brings together 34 international delegates to observe India’s electoral processes and technological safeguards. Key activities include field visits to dispatch centres and control rooms on April 22, followed by the observation of actual polling on April 23, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Programme Inauguration and Participation**
* Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated the second phase at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).
* Participants include 34 delegates from 17 countries, representatives from foreign missions in Delhi, and a representative from International IDEA.
* This follows Phase-I of the programme, which covered Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry from April 8 to April 9, 2026.
**Technical and Administrative Demonstrations**
* Delegates received hands-on experience through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) demonstrations and participation in mock polls.
* Interactive sessions were held with experts to clarify doubts regarding India’s technological interventions and administrative safeguards.
**Field Visit Schedule**
* Delegates will travel to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on April 22, 2026.
* Visits are scheduled for dispatch and distribution centres, District Control Rooms, and Media Monitoring Centres.
* On April 23, 2026, delegates will witness the actual polling process in person.
**Strategic Objectives of IEVP**
* The IEVP is a flagship initiative for international cooperation between the ECI and foreign Election Management Bodies (EMBs).
* The programme provides a comprehensive overview of India’s institutional electoral framework and operational architecture.
* It aims to showcase the strengths of India’s electoral system and share best practices in election management with the international community.
**Impact Analysis**
**International Delegates and Foreign EMBs**
**Impact**
Delegates gain direct exposure to the world’s largest democracy’s electoral innovations, specifically the use of EVMs and administrative safeguards.
**Action Required**
Participate in mock polls, interactive expert sessions, and field visits to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu between April 21 and April 23, 2026.
**Election Commission of India (ECI)**
**Impact**
The ECI strengthens its international engagement and reinforces the global reputation of India's electoral framework.
**Action Required**
Manage the logistics of the visiting delegations and provide expert demonstrations of electoral technology and facilities.
**State Election Facilities (Tamil Nadu and West Bengal)**
**Impact**
Local centres, including District Control Rooms and Media Monitoring Centres, will be under international observation.
**Action Required**
Facilitate delegate visits to dispatch centres and polling stations to allow for the transparent observation of the voting process on April 23, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP): A flagship initiative of the ECI aimed at international cooperation, providing foreign delegates with an overview of India’s electoral framework and best practices in election management.
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary regulatory body responsible for organizing the IEVP and managing the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies.
India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM): The ECI’s training and resource center where delegates receive technical demonstrations on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and electoral administrative safeguards.
Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry: The specific Indian states and Union Territory designated as locations for field visits where international delegates observe polling processes and election infrastructure.
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA): An international intergovernmental organization participating in the programme to engage with India's electoral system and technological interventions.
Election Commission
ECI flags off Phase-II of International Election
Visitors’ Programme-2026
Posted On: 21 APR 2026 6:11PM by PIB Delhi
1. The Election Commission of India commenced the second phase of International Election Visitors’
Programme (IEVP), 2026 for the ongoing General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Tamil
Nadu and West Bengal in New Delhi today.
2. Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated the programme today at India
International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).
3. 34 delegates from 17 countries including representatives from their Foreign Missions in Delhi and
a representative of International IDEA will be participating in the second phase of the programme.
4. The participants will visit Tamil Nadu and West Bengal from April 22 to April 23, 2026. In the first
phase, the delegates of the Programme visited Assam, Kerala and Puducherry from April 8 to April
9, 2026.
5. The delegates were given demonstration of the EVM at IIIDEM today and they took part in the
mock poll using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to get a hands-on experience of the
voting process.
6. The delegates evinced keen interest in the technological interventions and administrative
safeguards in the election process in India. The delegates had an interactive session with the
experts clarifying their doubts/queries.
7. The delegates will be travelling to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on April 22, 2026. They will visit
the dispatch and distribution centres and other facilities including the District Control Rooms and
the Media Monitoring Centres. They will also witness the actual polling in the morning of April 23,
2026.
8. The IEVP is a flagship program of the ECI for international cooperation and engagement with the
Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of other countries and International Organizations.
9. The IEVP provides a comprehensive overview of India’s electoral framework, institutional
mechanisms, and operational architecture, while familiarising foreign EMB delegates with best
practices and innovations in election management.
10. The IEVP showcases the strengths of India’s electoral system to the international community and
sharing the best practices adopted in the world’s largest democracy for conduct of elections.
***
PK/GDH/RP
(Release ID: 2254216) Visitor Counter : 273
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