The Conference of Speakers and
Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) is an important international
forum for Speakers and Presiding Officers of the parliaments of Commonwealth
countries. This conference is held every two years, and its main objective is
to strengthen parliamentary democracy, develop parliamentary institutions, and
promote the impartiality and fairness of Speakers. This organization was
initiated in 1969 by Lucien Lamoureux, the then Speaker of the House of Commons
of Canada. CSPOC has no formal affiliation with the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association (CPA) or the Commonwealth Secretariat, but it is an independent
forum for enhancing cooperation on parliamentary values.On January 15, 2026, the 28th
CSPOC conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The conference is being held from January 14 to 16, 2026, at the Constitution
Hall (Samvidhan Sadan) in the Parliament House complex. Lok Sabha Speaker Om
Birla is the Chairperson of this conference. This is the largest CSPOC
conference to date, with 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42
Commonwealth countries and representatives from 4 semi-autonomous parliaments
participating. Speakers from several prominent countries, including Canada, the
United Kingdom, and Australia, are present.
In his inaugural address,
Prime Minister Modi said that India has made diversity the strength of its
democracy. He emphasized the need to strongly raise the voice of the Global
South on global platforms. PM Modi stated that during its G20 presidency, India
kept the concerns of the Global South at the forefront and is now developing
open-source technology platforms so that Commonwealth and Global South
countries can build similar systems. He said, "India has transformed
diversity into the stability, dynamism, and scale of democracy."
The following important issues
are being discussed in detail during this three-day conference:
- The role of Speakers and
Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions.
- The use of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) in parliamentary proceedings.
- The impact of social media
on Members of Parliament.
- Innovative strategies to
enhance public understanding of Parliament and citizen participation beyond
voting. - The safety, health, and well-being of Members of Parliament and
parliamentary staff.
- Cooperation on global
challenges such as parliamentary diplomacy, climate change, terrorism, and
cybercrime.
This conference is paperless,
and a special CSPOC 2026 mobile app has been launched for it.
India has hosted this
conference several times before – in 1970-71, 1986, and 2010. India's hosting
in 2026 reflects the ancient Indian spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the whole
world is one family). Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has emphasized the exchange of
best practices at the conference. At the end of the conference, Om Birla will
hand over the chairmanship of CSPOC to Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the UK
House of Commons.
The 28th CSPOC conference is
not only an opportunity to strengthen parliamentary democracy but also a
platform to build global consensus on modern issues such as AI, social media,
and citizen participation. This hosting by India will give new direction to
parliamentary cooperation among Commonwealth countries. This event showcases
India's democratic journey and global leadership to the world.