India has turned diversity into the strength of its democracy: PM
India has shown that democratic institutions and democratic processes give democracy with stability, speed and scale: PM
In India, democracy means last-mile delivery: PM
Our democracy is like a large tree supported by deep roots; We have a long tradition of debate, dialogue and collective decision-making: PM
India is strongly raising the concerns of the Global South on every global platform; During its G20 Presidency as well, India placed the priorities of the Global South at the centre of the global agenda: PM
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 15. 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi remarked that in a parliamentary democracy, the role of the Speaker is unique. He highlighted that the Speaker does not get to speak much, but their responsibility lies in listening to others and ensuring that everybody gets a chance to express themselves. He underlined that patience is the most common trait of Speakers, who handle even noisy and over-enthusiastic members with a smile.
Warmly welcoming the guests on this special occasion, Mr Modi expressed honour in having them present. He highlighted that the place where everyone was seated holds immense importance in India’s democratic journey. He recalled that in the final years of colonial rule, when India’s freedom was certain, the Constituent Assembly met in this very Central Hall to draft the Constitution. The Prime Minister noted that for 75 years after independence, this building served as India’s Parliament, where numerous crucial decisions and discussions shaping the nation’s future took place. Shri Modi further remarked that India has now dedicated this historic place to democracy by naming it the Samvidhan Sadan. He highlighted that only recently, India celebrated 75 years of the implementation of its Constitution. He emphasized that the presence of all distinguished guests in the Samvidhan Sadan is a very special moment for India’s democracy.
The Prime Minister remarked that this is the fourth occasion when the Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers’ Conference is being held in India. He highlighted that the main theme of this conference is Effective Delivery of Parliamentary Democracy. Shri Modi recalled that when India attained independence, apprehensions were expressed that democracy would not survive in a country with such diversity. He emphasized that India turned this very diversity into the strength of its democracy. He further noted that another major concern was that even if democracy somehow survived in India, development would not be possible. “India has proved that democratic institutions and democratic processes provide stability, speed, and scale to democracy”, underlined the Prime Minister. He highlighted that today India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world, India has the world’s largest digital payment system through UPI, is the largest vaccine producer, the second-largest steel producer, the third-largest startup ecosystem, the third-largest aviation market, the fourth-largest railway network, the third-largest metro rail network, the largest milk producer, and the second-largest rice producer.
“In India, democracy means last-mile delivery”, emphasised Shri Modi, adding that India works with a spirit of public welfare, ensuring benefits reach every individual without discrimination. He highlighted that due to this spirit of welfare, 25 crore people have come out of poverty in recent years. He asserted, “In India, democracy delivers”.
The Prime Minister remarked that democracy delivers in India because the people are supreme. He underlined that their aspirations and dreams have been given priority, and to ensure no obstacles come in their way, everything from processes to technology has been democratized. He said that this democratic spirit runs in India’s veins and minds. Shri Modi cited the example of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the entire world was struggling. He noted that despite challenges within the country, India supplied medicines and vaccines to more than 150 nations. He emphasized that serving people’s interests, welfare, and well-being is India’s ethos, and this ethos has been nurtured by India’s democracy.
Underlining that many across the world know India as the largest democracy, Modi highlighted that the scale of India’s democracy is truly extraordinary. Referring to the general elections held in 2024, he underlined that they were the largest democratic exercise in human history. Nearly 980 million citizens were registered to vote, a number larger than the population of some continents. He noted that there were more than 8,000 candidates and over 700 political parties contesting, and the elections also witnessed record participation by women voters. The Prime Minister emphasized that today Indian women are not only participating but also leading the way. He pointed out that the President of India, the nation’s first citizen, is a woman, and the Chief Minister of Delhi, the city where the conference is being held, is also a woman. He further highlighted that in rural and local government bodies, India has about 1.5 million elected women representatives, representing almost 50 percent of grassroots leaders, which is globally unparalleled. The Prime Minister remarked that Indian democracy is rich in diversity. He noted that hundreds of languages are spoken, there are over 900 television channels across different languages, and thousands of newspapers and periodicals are published. He underlined that very few societies manage diversity at such a scale, and India celebrates this diversity because its democracy has a strong foundation. Comparing India’s democracy to a large tree supported by deep roots, Shri Modi emphasized India’s long tradition of debate, dialogue, and collective decision-making, and recalled that India is called the Mother of Democracy. He highlighted that India’s sacred texts, the Vedas, over 5,000 years old, refer to assemblies where people met to discuss issues and took decisions after discussion and agreement. The Prime Minister noted that India is the land of Bhagwan Buddha, where the Buddhist Sangha used to have open and structured discussions, with decisions taken through consensus or voting. He further referred to a 10th-century inscription from Tamil Nadu describing a village assembly that worked with democratic values, with clear rules for accountability and decision-making. “India’s democratic values have been tested by time, supported by diversity, and strengthened generation after generation”, emphasised the Prime Minister.
Mr Modi remarked that nearly 50 percent of the Commonwealth’s total population resides in India. He highlighted that India has consistently sought to contribute as much as possible to the development of all nations. He underlined that in the Commonwealth’s Sustainable Development Goals, whether in the areas of health, climate change, economic growth, or innovation, India is fulfilling its commitments with full responsibility. He emphasized that India continuously makes efforts to learn from fellow partners and also ensures that India’s experiences benefit other Commonwealth nations.
The Prime Minister observed that at a time when the world is undergoing unprecedented transformation, it is also the moment for the Global South to chart new pathways. He remarked that India is strongly voicing the concerns of the Global South at every global platform. He recalled that during its G20 Presidency, India placed the concerns of the Global South at the center of the global agenda. Shri Modi highlighted India’s consistent effort to ensure that innovations benefit the entire Global South and the Commonwealth countries. He noted that India is also building open-source technology platforms so that partner nations in the Global South can develop systems similar to those established in India.
Highlighting that one of the key objectives of this conference is to explore different ways of promoting knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy, Shri Modi stressed that both Speakers and Presiding Officers have a very important role in this effort, as it connects people more closely with the democratic process of their country. He noted that the Indian Parliament has already been undertaking such initiatives. The Prime Minister emphasized that through study tours, customized training programmes, and internships, citizens have been given opportunities to understand Parliament more closely. He further highlighted that India has begun using AI to translate debates and House proceedings in real time into regional languages. Shri Modi remarked that resources related to Parliament are also being made more user-friendly with the help of AI. He underlined that this is providing the younger generation with a better opportunity to understand the functioning of Parliament.
Underscoring that he has had the opportunity to visit more than 20 member countries associated with the Commonwealth, Shri Modi highlighted that he has also had the privilege of addressing several parliaments. He noted that wherever he went, he learned a great deal. The Prime Minister emphasized that every best practice he came across is shared with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, as well as the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He expressed confidence that this conference will further enrich the process of learning and sharing. Concluding his remarks, he extended his best wishes to all participants.
Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, President of Inter Parliamentary Union, Dr. Tulia Ackson, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Dr. Christopher Kalila were present among other dignitaries at the event.
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