New Delhi, Jan. 12 — The 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), hosted by the Parliament of India, will be the largest in its history in terms of participation. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who serves as the Chairperson of the Conference, announced the details at a press briefing in New Delhi on Monday.
Scheduled from January 14 to 16, the conference will focus on shared parliamentary values, democratic governance, and institutional cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event on January 15 in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex. Following the inauguration, PM Modi will hold informal interactions with Speakers and Presiding Officers from the Commonwealth.
Speaker Birla highlighted that the conference has been organized using entirely digital means, with no paper used. “An app has been developed to facilitate all aspects of conference coordination, and a web-based event management system will ensure smooth dissemination of information,” he said. At least 42 countries have confirmed their participation, though Pakistan will not be represented and Bangladesh currently lacks a Speaker due to upcoming general elections.
The Standing Committee meeting overseeing CSPOC activities will be held on January 14 at the Red Fort in Delhi, where delegates will be treated to a light and sound show, followed by a dinner hosted by Speaker Birla at 7:30 pm.
Key topics at the conference include “AI in Parliament: Balancing Innovation, Oversight and Adaptation,” “Social Media and Its Impact on Parliamentarians,” “Innovative Strategies to Enhance Public Understanding of Parliament Beyond Voting,” and “Security, Health and Wellbeing of Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Officials.” A special plenary session will focus on the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining robust democratic institutions, with a keynote address by Speaker Birla.
The CSPOC was created in 1969 by then-Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Lucien Lamoureux. It brings together Speakers and Presiding Officers from the 53 sovereign states of the Commonwealth and operates independently from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM), though its membership mirrors that of the CPA. The conference is held every two years, with a Standing Committee meeting in the intervening year.
India’s hosting of the 28th CSPOC was confirmed during the 25th CSPOC in Ottawa in January 2020, when Speaker Birla led the Indian Parliamentary Delegation. Post-conference, delegates will participate in a tour of Jaipur on January 17 and 18. Special invitees include Dr. Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Dr. Christopher Kalila, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
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