SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs | Lok Sabha Secretariat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the historic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi. The conference, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, brings together presiding officers from over 50 Commonwealth nations to deliberate on the theme: “Effective Delivery of Parliamentary Democracy”. Highlighting India’s democratic scale, the Prime Minister noted that the nation has turned its immense diversity into a source of institutional strength, successfully providing “stability, speed, and scale” to its developmental journey.
Contemporary Legislative Agenda
Digital Transformation: A primary focus of the conference is the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in parliamentary functioning, including India’s use of AI for real-time translation of House proceedings into regional languages.
Social Media Impact: Legislators are examining the influence of social media on parliamentary practice and public discourse to ensure it strengthens rather than undermines democratic debate.
Citizen Participation: Speakers are discussing innovative strategies to enhance public understanding of Parliament and encourage active citizen engagement beyond the act of voting.
Member Well-being: The agenda includes critical discussions on the security, health, and well-being of Members of Parliament and parliamentary officials.
India’s Democratic Ethos and Leadership
Institutional Heritage: The Prime Minister emphasized India’s 5,000-year-old tradition of collective decision-making, citing ancient Vedic assemblies and 10th-century village councils as foundational roots of the “Mother of Democracy”.
Global South Advocacy: India continues to place the priorities of the Global South at the center of the global agenda, offering open-source technology platforms to help partner nations develop their own digital systems.
Inclusive Leadership: The conference highlighted India’s unparalleled grassroots democracy, which includes approximately 1.5 million elected women representatives, constituting nearly 50% of local government leaders.
What is ‘Parliamentary Diplomacy’ and why is it central to CSPOC? It is the use of international dialogue and cooperation between legislatures to strengthen democratic institutions and address global challenges. Unlike traditional state-to-state diplomacy led by governments, parliamentary diplomacy allows Speakers and Presiding Officers to share best practices, harmonize legislative standards, and build institutional resilience through peer learning. In the context of the 28th CSPOC, it serves as a platform to collectively address modern disruptions like AI and social media while reaffirming a shared commitment to the “four freedoms” of the Commonwealth tradition.
What is the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC)? The CSPOC is an independent, non-partisan organization created in 1969 to bring together the heads of national parliaments from across the Commonwealth. It serves as a high-level forum for parliamentary diplomacy, allowing Speakers and Presiding Officers to share professional experiences, discuss legislative challenges, and strengthen the impartiality of their offices. The conference typically deliberates on the evolving role of legislatures in democratic governance, focusing on contemporary issues such as the impact of technology on House proceedings, member security, and strategies to increase citizen participation in the democratic process. By fostering dialogue and cooperation, CSPOC aims to build institutional resilience and reinforce the collective commitment to democratic values and effective parliamentary oversight among member nations.
Policy Relevance
The conference positions India as a primary convener of global parliamentary engagement, reinforcing its role as a leader in democratic innovation and Global South advocacy.
Strategic Impact for India:
Democratizing Information through AI: By showcasing real-time AI translation of debates, India is setting a global benchmark for making parliamentary proceedings accessible to the younger generation and diverse linguistic groups.
Scaling ‘Last-Mile’ Democracy: The Prime Minister’s assertion that “democracy means last-mile delivery” aligns parliamentary functioning with India’s successful poverty alleviation efforts, which have uplifted 25 crore people.
Strengthening Commonwealth Ties: Hosting CSPOC for the fourth time (previously in 1971, 1986, and 2010) reaffirms India’s long-standing commitment to the Commonwealth parliamentary tradition and regional stability.
Global Governance Reform: The focus on Global South concerns ensures that international legislative agendas are reflective of the needs of the 50 percent of the Commonwealth’s population that resides in India.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can Commonwealth parliaments develop a unified ‘AI Ethics Charter’ to ensure that automated technologies enhance legislative transparency without compromising the sanctity of human-led parliamentary debate?
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