Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, speaks during a joint press statement with Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor, not pictured, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Merz said the world should brace for more uncertainty with the return of global power politics, urging closer economic and security ties with countries like India to counter the instability. Photographer: Prakash Singh/Bloomberg
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday (Jan 15) inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), 2026 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.
While addressing the Conference, PM Modi underscored India’s democratic journey and its ability to deliver development outcomes.
This is the fourth time the Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference is being held in India. ‘Effective Delivery of Parliamentary Democracy’ is the theme of the conference this year. The Prime Minister met delegates from several countries during the conference at the Parliament.
Speaking on the theme of the 28th CSPOC, PM Modi said the subject was highly relevant in the current global context.
He recalled that at the time of India’s independence, there were widespread doubts internationally about whether democracy could survive in a country marked by vast diversity.
“India proved these fears wrong and transformed its diversity into the greatest strength of its democracy. Another apprehension was that even if democracy somehow survived, India would not be able to deliver on development…” he said.
He highlighted that democracy delivers in India because the people of the country are its highest priority. He said, “We have translated the aspirations of the people, the dreams of the masses, into actionable reality. To ensure that no obstacles come in their way, we have democratised everything, from processes to technology. This democratic spirit runs in our veins, lives in our minds, and is ingrained in our values.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the historical significance of the venue, noting that the Central Hall had hosted Constituent Assembly meetings during the final years of British rule and served as India’s Parliament for 75 years.
He said many landmark decisions shaping the nation’s future were taken in the hall, now named the Constitution House. Referring to the recent 75th anniversary of the Constitution’s implementation, PM Modi said the presence of international dignitaries at the venue held special significance for Indian democracy.
The high-level conference, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, witnessed participation from 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers representing 42 Commonwealth countries.
Representatives from four semi-autonomous parliaments also attended the gathering. Delegations from several major Commonwealth nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, took part in the conference.
Among other participants were the Deputy Speaker of Namibia, delegations from Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Cameroon and Malaysia, as well as representatives from the Australian High Commission led by High Commissioner Philip Green.
Citing economic and developmental indicators, the Prime Minister said India is currently the world’s fastest-growing major economy. He highlighted achievements across sectors, including digital payments through UPI, vaccine production, steel manufacturing, start-ups, aviation, railways and metro networks.
PM Modi said, “Today, India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy. India’s UPI is the world’s largest digital payment system. India is the world’s largest producer of vaccines. India ranks second globally in steel production. India has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. India is the world’s third-largest aviation market. India’s rail network is the fourth largest in the world. India operates the world’s third-largest metro rail network. India is the world’s largest producer of milk. India ranks second in the world in rice production. In recent years, 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty in India. This is proof that democracy delivers results in India. Democracy delivers results in India because the people of the country are at the heart of our governance…”
Modi also spoke about India’s role in advocating for the Global South, stating that the country has consistently raised its concerns on global platforms. He said that during India’s G20 presidency, issues affecting the Global South were placed at the centre of the global agenda. The Prime Minister added that India is developing open-source technology platforms to help partner nations build systems similar to those in India. - The Statesman/ANN
