New Delhi: India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi from January 14 to 16, bringing together parliamentary heads from across the Commonwealth even as Pakistan and Bangladesh stay away from the high-profile gathering.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the conference on January 15, while Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who currently chairs the CSPOC, will preside over the proceedings. The event is expected to see one of the largest turnouts in the conference’s history, with Speakers and Presiding Officers from over 40 Commonwealth countries confirming their participation.

Officials said the conference will focus on contemporary challenges facing legislatures, including the use of artificial intelligence in parliamentary work, the impact of social media on democracy, innovative ways to engage citizens, and issues related to the safety, health and well-being of lawmakers and parliamentary staff.

Pakistan will not send any delegation and its flag will not be displayed at the venue. Bangladesh, meanwhile, will remain unrepresented as its Parliament has been dissolved ahead of general elections.

The Standing Committee of the CSPOC will meet on January 14 ahead of the main conference, with delegates also scheduled to attend cultural events and heritage visits in the capital. 

Established in 1969, the CSPOC is an independent forum aimed at strengthening parliamentary democracy and cooperation among Commonwealth nations, and the New Delhi meet is being seen as a significant moment for India’s parliamentary diplomacy.

BI Bureau