From member to president. Anyone can do it.
YOSI is run by its members, and a fresh Governing Council is elected every two years. Nobody can hold the same Governing Council post twice, so every term opens the door to new people. Here is how it works, and how an ordinary member can get there.
What members elect.
These were the posts open in the 2026 election. Each post has its own nomination form.
Governing Council
- Vice President
- General Secretary
- Treasurer
- Joint Secretary
- Joint Treasurer
Executive Body
- Editor, YO Times
- DICE Editor
- Zonal Members 10 posts · 2 per zone: North, South, East, West, Central
- Executive Members 20 posts
The basics.
A YOSI member
Join YOSI as a life member (₹2,000, once). New members are admitted provisionally and become full members once the general body ratifies them. Only ratified members in good standing can nominate.
A young ophthalmologist
YOSI is built exclusively for ophthalmologists in training or under 40 years of age.
A proposer and a seconder
Both must be ratified YOSI life members. Current Governing Council members cannot propose or second a candidate.
One post at the end
You may file for more than one post, but you must withdraw from all except one before the deadline. Otherwise all your nominations are cancelled.
Criteria for each post, and the zone details, are set out in the YOSI Constitution and Annexure I of the nomination letter. Members can read the Constitution in YOSI 360.
How an election runs.
The calendar below is from the 2026 election. Results were declared at YOSICON 2026 in New Delhi.
- Nominations openThe Election Commission invites nominations and members receive the call by email.
- Nomination deadlineSubmit the signed nomination letter, ID with date of birth, passport photo and CV through the nomination form. One form per post.
- ScrutinyNominations are checked and every candidate is told whether theirs was accepted.
- Withdrawal deadlineCandidates standing for several posts withdraw from all but one.
- Final list and KYCThe final candidate list and “Know Your Candidate” profiles go to every member. Members also finish updating their details by this date.
- Online votingVoting opens at 8:00 AM on 12 June and closes at 8:00 PM on 21 June.
- ResultsResults are declared at YOSICON in New Delhi.
How members vote.
1. Check your details. Make sure your member record and email are up to date before the data deadline.
2. Read the profiles. Every member receives the final candidate list with a profile of each candidate, written by the candidates themselves in their nomination forms.
3. Vote online. Voting is open for ten days, so there is time to read, think and vote from your phone or laptop.
4. Results at YOSICON. The new council is announced at the conference and takes office for the two-year term.
The YOSI Election Commission, led by a Chief Election Officer with several Election Officers, runs the process. Its decision is final on all election matters. Questions: presidentyosi@yosi.in.
Ordinary member to President.
Every leader started as a member who showed up. This is one way the road can look. Nobody needs to be famous, only willing to learn, help and keep going.
- 1Join YOSIBecome a life member. It takes a few minutes, and you are part of the community.
- 2Show upAttend webinars, YOSICON and Eye Shiksha. Ask a question. Say hello.
- 3Take the stageGive a short talk at Safe Stage, a webinar or a YOSI session. Only positive feedback.
- 4Join a working groupPick one of YOSI's groups, such as Journal Club, Exam Accelerator or Medico-Legal, and help run a session.
- 5Grow as a leaderJoin the Future Leaders Academy and learn to lead projects inside YOSI.
- 6Stand for electionFile a nomination for the Executive Body or a Governing Council post, and ask the community for its vote.
- ★Serve, then leadServe the community in the post you win, and step up again when the next chance comes.
Your first step is small.
Join YOSI, join a session this month and say yes to the next small thing.