Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) 2026 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi — marking one of the largest gatherings of parliamentary leaders from across the Commonwealth. The event runs from January 14 to 16, 2026.
The conference, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, brings together 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers representing 42 Commonwealth countries and four semi-autonomous parliaments to deliberate on emerging democratic and parliamentary issues.
Key focus areas of the conference include:
- Strengthening the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in upholding robust democratic institutions.
- The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in parliamentary functioning.
- The impact of social media on legislators and parliamentary processes.
- Strategies to enhance public understanding of Parliament and boost citizen engagement beyond voting.
In his address, PM Modi emphasised India’s democratic heritage and diversity, describing India’s democracy as a “deep-rooted tree” that has adapted and strengthened over time. He highlighted India’s experience with the largest democratic exercise in history during the 2024 general elections and underscored the importance of inclusive democratic participation.
Modi also reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Global South nations, with efforts to share technological innovations such as open-source platforms to help partner countries enhance their democratic and parliamentary systems.
The CSPOC in India builds on a history of the country hosting the event previously in 1971, 1986 and 2010, reinforcing India’s longstanding engagement with Commonwealth parliamentary tradition and dialogue.
Why It Matters:
This high-level meeting not only strengthens parliamentary cooperation among Commonwealth nations but also provides a platform to exchange best practices on democracy, technology and governance — reflecting India’s growing diplomatic and democratic leadership on the global stage.
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