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India Hosts Global Speakers' Summit with PM Modi Inaugurating Key Conference

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arrived at Parliament for the 28th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC), which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The high-level gathering features 61 Speakers from 42 Commonwealth countries, including delegations from the UK, Canada, and Australia. Key themes for discussion include the role of AI in parliament, the impact of social media on lawmakers, and strategies to boost public engagement with democratic institutions. This edition, hosted by India from January 14-16, is noted as the largest in the conference's history.

Key Points: Commonwealth Speakers' Conference Inaugurated by PM Modi in Delhi

  • PM Modi inaugurates conference
  • 61 Speakers from 42 nations attending
  • Focus on AI, social media in parliaments
  • Discussions on citizen engagement
  • India hosts largest CSPOC edition
2 min read

LS Speaker Om Birla arrives at Parliament as delegations reach for 28th Commonwealth Speakers' Conference

PM Modi inaugurates the 28th Commonwealth Speakers' Conference in Parliament, with delegations from 42 nations discussing AI, democracy, and innovation.

"CSPOC will deliberate on a range of contemporary parliamentary issues to strengthen democratic institutions and modern legislative practices. - Official Release"

New Delhi, January 15

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arrived at the Parliament House on Thursday for the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, 2026.

The conference will be inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.

According to an official release, PM Modi will inaugurate the conference at 10:30 am and address the gathering.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar also reached the Parliament House for the conference.

The high-level conference will be chaired by Birla and will feature 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth countries, along with representatives from four semi-autonomous parliaments, underscoring the event's global scale and significance.

Delegations from several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, have reached Parliament to participate in the high-level gathering.

Other arrivals include the Deputy Speaker of Namibia, delegations from Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Cameroon, Malaysia, and representatives from the Australian High Commission, led by High Commissioner Philip Green.

According to the release, CSPOC will deliberate on a range of contemporary parliamentary issues to strengthen democratic institutions and modern legislative practices.

Key themes include the evolving role of Speakers and Presiding Officers, technological innovation in parliamentary functioning, and enhancing citizen engagement with democratic processes.

Among the major topics scheduled for discussion are "AI in Parliament: Balancing Innovation, Oversight and Adaptation", to be led by Malaysia; "Social Media and its Impact on Parliamentarians", to be presented by Sri Lanka; and "Innovative Strategies to Enhance Public Understanding of Parliament and Citizen Participation Beyond Voting", with contributions from Nigeria and South Africa.

Other sessions will focus on the security, health and well-being of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff, as well as a special plenary discussion on the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions.

Earlier on Wednesday, Birla chaired a Standing Committee meeting ahead of the 28th CSPOC.

CSPOC is being hosted by the Parliament of India from January 14 to 16, and it will be the largest in terms of participation.

The 27th edition of CSPOC was hosted by Uganda in January 2024, and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, and the Leader of IPD at that conference had taken over from Uganda as the host of the 28th edition of CSPOC, to be held in India in 2026.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see India taking the lead on parliamentary discussions. The focus on citizen engagement beyond voting is crucial. In our country, many people only think about democracy during elections. We need more continuous dialogue between the public and their representatives.
D
David E
As an observer from the UK, it's impressive to see the scale of this conference in New Delhi. The Commonwealth connection remains important. Interested to see what comes out of the session on "Social Media and its Impact on Parliamentarians" – a challenge for democracies everywhere.
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Aditya G
While hosting conferences is good for diplomacy, I hope the discussions lead to real action. Our Parliament sessions often see disruptions. Maybe we can learn from other nations about maintaining decorum and productivity. The topic on the well-being of MPs is also important – their job is stressful.
S
Sarah B
The representation from 42 countries is remarkable. It's a great platform for cultural and procedural exchange. Wondering if there will be any focus on gender representation in parliaments? That's a key democratic issue for many Commonwealth nations.
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Karthik V
Jai Hind! Seeing our PM inaugurate and our Speaker chair such a global meet fills me with pride. The world is coming to learn from the mother of democracy. Let's also showcase our rich traditions of debate and discussion from ancient times. All the best to Team India for hosting!

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