The Election Commission of India (ECI) successfully concluded the National Round Table Conference with State Election Commissioners at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 24, 2026, after a gap of 27 years. The day‑long meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attended by Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, brought together State Election Commissioners and their legal and technical teams from across the country.
The conference, regarded as a significant step in fostering closer institutional cooperation, culminated with the unanimous adoption of the National Declaration 2026. The declaration reaffirmed that the preparation of pure electoral rolls is vital to the democratic process, underscoring that transparent and efficient conduct of elections is central to strengthening democratic governance in India.
In his address, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar highlighted that a clean and accurate electoral roll is the foundation of credible elections. He noted that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, designed to include eligible voters and eliminate ineligible entries from electoral rolls, was already underway in several States and Union Territories. This process reflects the Commission’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of voter lists.
A key outcome of the conference was the commitment of the ECI and the State Election Commissions (SECs) to develop mutually acceptable mechanisms and legally viable frameworks for cooperation. This collaboration includes sharing digital platforms like ECINET — a central portal for managing electoral services — as well as Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), electoral rolls, and institutional training through the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). SECs have also been encouraged to participate in international engagements led by the ECI to benefit from global best practices.
During the discussions, participants focused on aligning laws governing elections to panchayats and municipal bodies with those applicable to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections. This alignment aims to reduce legal discrepancies and promote a more consistent approach to electoral governance at all levels of government. Representatives also discussed best practices related to electoral roll revision, randomisation of police personnel for election duties, and technical aspects of EVMs and digital platforms.
The ECI proposed institutionalising this conference as an annual forum for constructive dialogue, ideally to be held alongside international conferences chaired by the Commission. The declaration emphasised that suggestions made by SECs during the conference would be examined in detail by a joint team of legal and technical experts led by Deputy Election Commissioners. Following this exercise, a State and Union Territory‑wise action plan will be submitted to the ECI within three months to further strengthen election management in the national interest.
The National Round Table Conference represents a renewed focus on cooperative federalism in India’s electoral management system. By bringing together national and state election authorities on a common platform after nearly three decades, the ECI has set the stage for improved coordination, transparency, and efficiency in the conduct of elections across the country.
