Modi inaugurated Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in the iconic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.

Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla; Union Ministers; Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh; Presiding Officers of Parliaments of the Commonwealth countries; Members of Parliament and other dignitaries graced the occasion.

Delivering Welcome Address, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla drew attention to the rapid technological transformations reshaping societies and governance, and observed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media have enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of democratic institutions. However, he cautioned that their misuse has also given rise to serious concerns such as misinformation, cybercrime and social polarisation. The Speaker asserted that it is a collective responsibility of legislatures to engage seriously with these challenges and evolve appropriate solutions.

He underscored the growing importance of ethical AI and credible, transparent and accountable social media frameworks in safeguarding democratic values. Expressing confidence, he noted that the Conference would facilitate in-depth deliberations on these critical global issues and lead to concrete policy-oriented outcomes, enabling legislatures to harness technology in an ideal and responsible manner.

Emphasising the role of Commonwealth parliamentary forums, the Speaker stated that such platforms possess the unique capacity to bring together Presiding Officers from diverse democracies to deliberate on issues of global importance. He stressed that collective wisdom and shared responsibility are essential for addressing the evolving challenges confronting legislatures worldwide.

Expressing optimism, he said that the discussions and deliberations at the Conference would contribute meaningfully towards identifying collective solutions to the challenges faced by legislatures. He noted that the exchange of ideas would help further improve parliamentary procedures, deepen public participation in parliamentary processes and strengthen citizens’ trust in democratic institutions.(updated on 15th january 2026)