Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, will inaugurate the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) on 15 January 2026 at 10.30 a.m. in the historic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi. The inauguration underscores the high importance India accords to parliamentary democracy and parliamentary diplomacy at the global level.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session, following which he will interact informally with the Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth and Autonomous Parliaments. A group photograph will also be taken on the occasion.

The Parliament of India, in coordination with the CSPOC Secretariat, is hosting the 28th CSPOC in New Delhi from 14 to 16 January 2026, positioning India at the center of a major global parliamentary engagement. The Conference will bring together Speakers and Presiding Officers from 53 national parliaments of the Commonwealth, providing a high-level forum for deliberations on the evolving role of legislatures in strengthening democratic governance and constitutional institutions.

In his capacity as Chairperson of the 28th CSPOC, the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, chaired the meeting of the CSPOC Standing Committee on 14 January 2026 at the Sangeeti Conference Hall, Red Fort, New Delhi. The meeting was preceded by a guided visit to the Red Fort and followed by a specially curated light and sound programme, offering the visiting dignitaries an opportunity to experience India’s rich civilisational heritage and the enduring legacy of a monument that symbolises the nation’s freedom and democratic journey.

The Conference proceedings on 15 and 16 January 2026 will focus on contemporary issues relevant to modern legislatures, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence in parliamentary functioning, the impact of social media on parliamentary practice and public discourse, innovative approaches to enhance public understanding of Parliament and citizen participation beyond voting, and matters relating to the security, health and well-being of Members of Parliament and parliamentary officials.

A Special Plenary Session on the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions will be addressed by the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, who will also chair the Plenary, Special Plenary and Closing Plenary Sessions of the Conference.

The Parliament of India has earlier hosted the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in 1971, 1986 and 2010. Hosting the 28th CSPOC builds upon this legacy and reaffirms India’s sustained engagement with the Commonwealth parliamentary tradition and its commitment to fostering dialogue, cooperation and institutional resilience among democratic legislatures.

On the sidelines of the Conference, the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, held bilateral interactions with several distinguished parliamentary leaders, including H.E. Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada; H.E. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka; H.E. Ms. Azarel Ernesta, Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles; H.E. Mr. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Speaker of the People’s Majlis of Maldives; Rt. Hon’ble Dr. Moses Masika Wetang'ula, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya; H.E. Dr. Dessima Williams, President of the Senate of Grenada; H.E. Mr. Poobalan Govender, Deputy Chairperson of South Africa’s National Council of Provinces; and H.E. Dr. Annelie Lotriet, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa.

The Standing Committee of CSPOC met today to deliberate on the Agenda and other modalities of the conference.

The 28th CSPOC is expected to reinforce collective commitment to democratic values, institutional integrity and effective parliamentary oversight across the Commonwealth, while highlighting India’s role as a confident, credible and responsible convenor of global parliamentary engagement.

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