Gyanesh Kumar says India has one of the world's most transparent electoral systems at the All India Media Conference 2026.
KOHIMA — The All India Media Conference 2026 on the theme "Connecting stakeholders, strengthening democracy: The role of media in elections" was held at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi, on Friday.
The conference brought together 315 media professionals from all 36 states and Union Territories, including representatives from Nagaland.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar asserted that India has one of the most transparent electoral systems in the world.
He said elections are conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution, electoral laws, and the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India.
Highlighting the robustness of the electoral process, Kumar said over 2.7 million Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and electoral registration officials are involved in the preparation and maintenance of electoral rolls across the country, leaving very little scope for errors.
The CEC also noted that India's vibrant democracy is reflected in its vast electorate, contrasting it with several countries where voting is compulsory. Referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he expressed gratitude to election officials across the country for successfully carrying out the exercise.
Director General of IIIDEM, Rakesh Kumar Verma, said the conference was organised to provide media professionals with first-hand exposure to key electoral processes and strengthen collaboration between the Election Commission and the media.
He underscored the media's role in encouraging greater voter participation and disseminating accurate information about elections.
Stressing the need to counter misinformation, Verma urged media professionals to remain vigilant and uphold the highest standards of factual reporting.
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He further emphasised the importance of continuous institutional learning, professional capacity building, and constructive engagement between election authorities and the media to promote transparent, credible, and well-informed electoral processes.
The conference featured technical sessions by senior Election Commission officials. Director General (Media) Ashish Goyal delivered a presentation on the conference theme, "Connecting stakeholders, strengthening democracy: The role of media in elections."
Director General (IT) Seema Khanna spoke on the ECINET platform and the role of technology in elections, while Deputy Director General (Law) Vijay Kumar Pandey explained important constitutional provisions, electoral laws, and recent judicial pronouncements.
Deputy Director (Media) Apurva Kumar Singh briefed participants on the preparation of electoral rolls, polling procedures, and the counting process.
The programme also included practical demonstrations of electoral roll preparation, polling procedures, and vote counting, conducted in smaller groups for the participating journalists.