PM Modi at 28th CSPOC: Parliamentary officials from 42 countries have gathered in India; the Prime Minister will address them shortly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 28th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC), 2026, at the Central Hall of the Parliament House in New Delhi on Thursday. The Prime Minister was welcomed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.

Conference to be chaired by Om Birla

The conference will be chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. It includes 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth countries, along with representatives from four semi-autonomous parliaments. This event underscores its global significance. Representatives from countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, and Cameroon are participating in this high-level conference. Australian High Commissioner Philip Green also attended the event.

Issues to be discussed

The conference will discuss several important issues related to Parliament and democracy. Key topics include:

The evolving role of Speakers and Presiding Officers

Technological innovation and digital management in Parliament

New ways to enhance citizens' understanding of democracy and Parliament