New Delhi , Jan 15 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), 2026, at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.
On arrival, he was welcomed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.
The conference, chaired by Om Birla, has drawn 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth nations, along with representatives from four semi-autonomous parliaments, making it the largest CSPOC gathering to date. Delegations include countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia, Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Cameroon, and Malaysia. Australia’s delegation is led by High Commissioner Philip Green.
The event will focus on contemporary parliamentary challenges and initiatives to strengthen democratic institutions and modernise legislative practices. Key themes include the evolving role of Speakers, adoption of technology in parliamentary processes, and strategies to improve citizen engagement with democracy.
Sessions are scheduled on topics like “AI in Parliament: Balancing Innovation, Oversight and Adaptation” led by Malaysia, “Social Media and its Impact on Parliamentarians” 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 discussions will cover the security, health, and welfare of MPs and parliamentary staff, alongside a plenary on the role of Speakers in maintaining strong democratic institutions.
Ahead of the conference, Om Birla chaired a Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday.
The CSPOC is hosted by the Indian Parliament from January 14 to 16, following India’s formal assumption of hosting responsibilities at the previous conference in Uganda in January 2024.
