ECI Launches Intensive Capacity-Building Programme for Bihar’s Electoral Officers and Police Personnel

New Delhi, April 22: The Election Commission of India has kickstarted a focused two-day training and capacity-building programme for electoral field functionaries from Bihar at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi. This marks the third such batch of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from the poll-bound state to undergo specialized training.

A total of 229 BLOs, 12 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and 2 District Election Officers (DEOs) are participating in the session, which aims to equip them with a thorough understanding of their statutory responsibilities and strengthen their proficiency in using IT tools for electoral roll management. The programme was inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar in the presence of Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi, and included an interactive session with the trainees.

Parallel to this, a specialized one-day training session also commenced for the State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) and senior police officials from Bihar. The objective is to enhance coordination between election authorities and law enforcement agencies, particularly in managing law and order, conducting vulnerability assessments, deploying Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and ensuring enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

This physical training module is part of the first phase of IIIDEM’s outreach to poll-bound states. So far, 555 BLOs from Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam, along with 279 Booth Level Agents (BLA-1s) representing 10 recognised political parties from Bihar, have received similar training. These trained officials will serve as Assembly Level Master Trainers (ALMTs), tasked with disseminating knowledge and ensuring consistency in electoral preparedness across the BLO network.

IIIDEM continues to uphold its global reputation for excellence in electoral management. To date, it has trained over 3,000 participants from 141 countries—including democratic nations such as the USA, UK, Australia, Brazil, and South Africa—underscoring India’s leadership in electoral best practices.