ECI Holds Third Media and Communication Officers Conference

The Election Commission of India (ECI) organized its Third One-Day Conference for Media and Communication Officers on July 8, 2026, bringing together approximately 200 officials from 10 States/UTs. The participants included Media Nodal Officers (MNOs), Social Media Nodal Officers (SMNOs), District Media Nodal Officers, District PROs, and senior officers from State Departments of Public Relations (DPRs).

Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi addressed the conference. CEC Kumar emphasized that all Commission actions are based on the Constitution of India, Electoral Laws, and written instructions issued transparently. He cautioned officials about false narratives on social media and stressed the need for proactive engagement to prevent misinformation spread. Kumar cited the highest-ever voter turnouts in recent Assembly Elections as evidence of public trust in India's electoral system.

Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi highlighted challenges in the digital world, specifically mentioning AI, deepfakes, and synthetic content spread by motivated actors to erode institutional trust. He urged Media and Communication Officers to counter such attempts using the Commission's rules, instructions, and guidelines.

The conference featured a comprehensive overview of communication strategies across the entire election cycle, from voter roll preparation to polling, including ECINET systems and relevant constitutional provisions and media laws. Practical sessions covered planning press notes and amplifying them through traditional and social media, tackling misinformation and false narratives, engaging young electors through Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs), and effectively communicating ECI initiatives to the public.

Participants received demonstrations on Electoral Rolls preparation, Polling Process, and Counting Process conducted in groups, followed by a guided walkthrough of the Exhibition and Media Corner. The program concluded with a Question and Answer (Q&A) session between participants and the Commission.