India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) from January 14 to 16, 2026, marking one of the largest inter-parliamentary gatherings in the country in recent years, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to inaugurate the event at the historic Central Hall of the Samvidhan Sadan on January 15.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who will chair the conference, said the meet will focus on how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and social media are reshaping the functioning of democratic institutions.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Birla said the four-day event, including arrivals and post-conference engagements, would bring together Speakers and Presiding Officers from across the Commonwealth to deliberate on strengthening parliamentary democracy in a rapidly changing global environment.
“India is honoured to host the 28th CSPOC at a time when parliaments worldwide are grappling with new challenges and opportunities posed by technology, changing public expectations and concerns relating to the security and well-being of legislators,” Birla said. “The focus this year will be on the application of artificial intelligence and social media in parliamentary functioning, while preserving the core democratic values of transparency, accountability and impartiality.”
Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the conference on January 15 at 10.30 am and deliver the keynote address. Following the inaugural session, the Prime Minister will interact informally with the Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth and autonomous parliaments and participate in a group photograph. Modi had earlier inaugurated the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) hosted by India in October 2023, the last major inter-parliamentary conference held in the country.
CSPOC, established in 1969 on the initiative of then Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Lucien Lamoureux, is an independent forum that brings together Speakers and Presiding Officers of the 53 national parliaments of Commonwealth countries. While it has no formal affiliation with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the Commonwealth Secretariat or the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), its membership mirrors that of the CPA. Canada has provided the secretariat for CSPOC since its inception.
The stated aims of the conference are to uphold impartiality and fairness among Presiding Officers, promote understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms, and support the development of strong parliamentary institutions. The conference operates on a two-year cycle, with a full membership conference held every alternate year.
The decision to host the 28th CSPOC in India was taken during the 25th conference in Ottawa in January 2020, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs. The formal handover to India took place at the conclusion of the 27th CSPOC in Kampala, Uganda, in January 2024, when Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh led the Indian Parliamentary Delegation.
As Chairperson of CSPOC since January 2024, Om Birla will preside over the Standing Committee meeting on January 14 at the Red Fort in Delhi. The Standing Committee, comprising 15 members, oversees CSPOC’s activities. Ahead of the meeting, visiting Speakers and Presiding Officers will be given a guided tour of the Red Fort and attend a light-and-sound programme, followed by a dinner hosted by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
The formal inauguration and plenary sessions will take place at the Central Hall of the Samvidhan Sadan, while workshop sessions will be held in the Lok Sabha Chamber, Rajya Sabha Chamber and the Chamber of Princes.
The conference agenda includes four workshop themes:
AI in Parliament: Balancing innovation, oversight and adaptation
Social media and its impact on parliamentarians
Innovative strategies to enhance public understanding of Parliament and citizen participation beyond voting
Security, health and well-being of Members of Parliament and parliamentary officials
The first two topics will be discussed on January 15, while the remaining sessions will be held on January 16. A special plenary session will focus on “The role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions,” with Birla delivering the keynote address.
Apart from chairing the plenary meetings, the Lok Sabha Speaker will also preside over the Lightning Round, Special Plenary and Closing Plenary sessions.
The CSPOC will be attended by Speakers and Presiding Officers from 53 Commonwealth countries, including 23 bicameral and 30 unicameral parliaments. According to official figures, 59 Speakers and Presiding Officers have confirmed participation so far, taking the total to 61, including India’s Lok Sabha Speaker and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The overall delegation strength is expected to be around 229, including Secretaries-General, MPs, diplomats and accompanying officials.
Special invitees include Dr Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and Dr Christopher Kalila, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Presiding Officers from several semi-autonomous parliaments will attend as observers.
India has hosted CSPOC on three earlier occasions — in 1971, 1986 and 2010. The 2010 conference, held at Vigyan Bhawan, was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. With the 2026 edition, India will reaffirm its role as a key convenor of global parliamentary dialogue.
At the conclusion of the conference on January 16, Birla will hand over the chairmanship of CSPOC to Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the UK House of Commons.
As part of the CSPOC tradition, a post-conference tour to Jaipur has been organised on January 17–18, showcasing India’s cultural heritage under the government’s “Atithi Devo Bhav” ethos.
With its emphasis on technology, democratic resilience and citizen engagement, the 28th CSPOC is expected to position India at the forefront of global discussions on the future of parliamentary democracy.