International Relations

India and Indonesia to Sign MoU on Election Management and Export of Customised EVMs

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Tuesday, 7 July 2026 3 min readSource: CA - ElectionsArticle 19 of 21

India and Indonesia are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focusing on cooperation in election technology, human resource development, capacity building, and the exchange of best poll practices, including the export of customised Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Indonesia, home to nearly 288 million people and the world's third-largest democracy, is turning to India for election technology, management expertise, and institutional support to modernise its electoral system. Officials from both countries have exchanged visits to study India's EVM design, election supervision systems, voter awareness initiatives, and digital tools for democratic governance. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has signed cooperation agreements with election management bodies of 28 countries — including Australia, Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Mexico, and South Africa — and three international organisations, reflecting the global recognition of India's election model.

Key Facts & Details

11 points

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India and Indonesia are set to sign an MoU on cooperation in election technology, human resource development, capacity building, and best poll practices, including export of customised EVMs.
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Indonesia, with nearly 288 million people, is the world's third-largest democracy and is seeking India's election technology and expertise.
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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has signed cooperation agreements with election management bodies of 28 countries and three international organisations.
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Bhutan was the first country to adopt customised Indian EVMs with technical assistance from India.
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Nepal received customised machines for pilot use along with institutional support, while Namibia became India's first commercial success, using Indian-made EVMs and later adopting VVPAT units.
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The ECI has supplied indelible ink for elections in countries including Madagascar, Myanmar, Cambodia, Fiji, Bhutan, Sierra Leone, and Mongolia.
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Officials from both countries have exchanged visits to study India's EVM design, election supervision, voter awareness, and digital governance tools.

Deep Dive

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India's election model has become a global benchmark, with countries from Bhutan, Nepal, and Namibia to Indonesia turning to it.
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Indian EVMs have earned global recognition for reliability, security, and the ability to conduct elections involving millions of voters efficiently.
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Officials framed India's expertise as a global public good, extending beyond voting machines to strengthening democratic institutions worldwide.
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The cooperation illustrates India's transition from exporting technology to helping strengthen democratic processes across the world.

Exam Focus

India is set to sign an MoU to export customised EVMs to which country, and which nation was the first to adopt customised Indian EVMs?

Exam Relevance & Angle

This item links India's election diplomacy, the Election Commission of India, the EVM/VVPAT technology, and named partner countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, and Namibia — all testable tokens. Aspirants should note Indonesia's status as the world's third-largest democracy and India's role as a global election-technology partner.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POSSC CGLRRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the autonomous constitutional body that administers election processes in India, established under Article 324 of the Constitution. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are used to record votes electronically, and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units provide a paper record for verification. India conducts the world's largest elections, and the ECI has increasingly shared its expertise internationally through cooperation agreements and technology support. Indonesia, one of the world's most populous democracies, holds large-scale elections, and modernising its electoral system through partnerships reflects a broader trend of India positioning its democratic institutions and election technology as instruments of soft power and international cooperation.