President Droupadi Murmu will kick off the 16th National Voters’ Day (NVD-2026) celebrations on Sunday, distributing Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to newly-registered young voters. The event, held at the national level, will highlight the role of citizens at the heart of Indian democracy under the theme “My India, My Vote.”
The ceremony will see Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal as Guest of Honour, with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi presiding over key proceedings. The event will also showcase the achievements of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in managing free and fair elections.
During the celebrations, President Murmu will present the Best Electoral Practices Awards in categories including effective use of technology, innovative voter awareness programs, election logistics, implementation of Model Code of Conduct, and media contributions. Special awards will also recognize exemplary election management initiatives.
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Two publications will be launched at the event: ‘2025: A Year of Initiatives and Innovations’ and ‘Chunav Ka Parv, Bihar Ka Garv’, celebrating the successful conduct of the Bihar Legislative Assembly Elections. A video highlighting the ECI’s global leadership in electoral management will also be screened.
An exhibition will showcase electoral processes such as the preparation of Electoral Rolls, conduct of elections, and new voter-focused initiatives. Simultaneous celebrations will be held nationwide through the offices of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Election Officers (DEOs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who will distribute EPICs and felicitate newly-enrolled voters.
The event underscores the ECI’s continued focus on strengthening democratic participation, particularly among first-time voters, and promoting transparency, technology adoption, and citizen engagement in India’s electoral process.
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