India Hosts 28th Commonwealth Speakers Conference

India is hosting the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi from January 14 to 16, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the conference on January 15. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is chairing the event, which is expected to be the largest in CSPOC's history with 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth of Nations countries and 4 semi-autonomous parliaments. Key topics for discussion include the role of Speakers in maintaining strong democratic institutions, the use of Artificial Intelligence in Parliament, the impact of social media on Parliamentarians, strategies to enhance public understanding of Parliament, and the security and well-being of Members of Parliament. The Standing Committee meeting, chaired by Om Birla, will be held on January 14 at the Red Fort. Pakistan and Bangladesh will not participate. The event aims to foster impartiality among Presiding Officers and promote parliamentary democracy.