Punjab Youth Congress Elections 2026 to be conducted through fully digital process
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 9, 2026: The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Tuesday officially launched the Punjab Youth Congress Elections 2026 with the release of a detailed Candidate Handbook, outlining a completely digital, transparent and democratic election process.
The handbook was released through the WithIYC Mobile Application in the presence of Dr Smruti Ranjan Lenka, IYC General Secretary In-Charge Punjab, Shishir Srivastava, PRO, IYC Election System, and IYC Secretary Ajaz Ahmed.
The initiative aims to ensure fairness, accountability and equal participation in the organisational elections, covering membership enrolment, nomination, voting and committee formation through a single digital platform.
Membership process and eligibility
As per the handbook, individuals aged between 18 and 35 years and holding Indian citizenship are eligible to become members, provided they are not associated with any other political organisation. The date of birth cut-off has been fixed between January 15, 1990 and January 16, 2008.
Applicants must submit a live photograph, Voter ID (EPIC), an eight-second video declaring intent to join the IYC, and an authenticated mobile number verified through OTP. Membership registration will be completed exclusively through the WithIYC Android application with a fee of ₹50. Membership will remain valid for three years or until the member attains the age of 35.
Scrutiny and verification
All membership applications will undergo scrutiny and will be classified as ‘In Process’, ‘On Hold’ or ‘Rejected’. Applications with incorrect details or unclear documents may be rejected, with no scope for correction in rejected cases.
Nomination and candidature rules
Filing of nomination is mandatory for contesting the elections. Accepted documents for date of birth proof include 10th class marksheet, passport or driving licence. Once filed, nominations cannot be withdrawn. Candidates are required to disclose any criminal cases, with non-disclosure attracting disqualification. The principle of ‘One Person, One Post’ will be strictly enforced.
Committee structure and reservations
The handbook specifies minimum vote requirements for committee formation. Block and Assembly Committees require a minimum of 10 votes, while District and State Committees require at least 20 votes. Committees will be constituted based on vote share, reservation norms and, at the state level, ideology and past organisational work. Notably, 12.5 per cent of District President posts have been reserved for SC/ST candidates.
Extended Committee system
To ensure wider representation, candidates who fail to secure elected posts may be accommodated through the Extended Committee system based on vote share and category, except at the block level.
Nomination fees
Nomination fees have been fixed with subsidised rates for SC/ST, women and BPL candidates. Fees range from ₹150 for block-level posts to ₹7,500 for state-level posts, with concessions available for reserved categories.
Campaign code of conduct
The IYC has enforced a strict campaign code of conduct. Newspaper advertisements, use of senior leaders’ names or endorsements, and negative or provocative campaigning have been prohibited. Social media and SMS campaigning are permitted. Forging documents or engaging private agencies will lead to disqualification.
Complaint redressal mechanism
Complaints can be filed only through the WithIYC application with a fee of ₹1,000. Late complaints will not be entertained. All election-related disputes will be decided by the IYC Election Commission, with legal jurisdiction vested in Delhi courts.
Digital-first elections
The entire election process—including membership, nomination, voting and payments—will be conducted online. Voting is integrated into the membership system, allowing each member to cast votes at multiple organisational levels.