PM inaugurates CSPOC 2026
By RATNAJYOTI DUTTA
NEW DELHI, 15 Jan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India has successfully turned its vast diversity into the strength of its democracy, proving early doubts wrong that such diversity could hinder democratic governance.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC 2026), Modi recalled that, at the time of Independence, many had questioned whether democracy could survive in a country as diverse as India.
The Prime Minister noted that another major doubt during the early years of independence was whether a democratic India could develop economically.
“India has shown that democratic institutions and processes provide stability, speed and scale,” Modi said, highlighting the country’s growth trajectory.
Modi said India is currently the world’s fastest-growing major economy. He underlined several global achievements, including India being the largest digital payment ecosystem through UPI, the largest vaccine producer, the second-largest steel producer, and home to the third-largest start-up ecosystem.
Modi pointed out that India is the third-largest aviation market, has the fourth-largest railway network, the third-largest metro rail network, is the largest milk producer, and the second-largest rice producer globally.
“In India, democracy means last-mile delivery,” Modi said, emphasising that governance focuses on reaching every citizen without discrimination.
Modi said this approach, driven by public welfare, has helped nearly 250 million people escape poverty in recent years.
“In India, democracy delivers,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister delivered his address at the Central Hall of the old Parliament building, where the Constituent Assembly once drafted the Indian Constitution.
His speech aligned with the conference theme, “Effective Delivery of Parliamentary Democracy”.
Modi stressed that democracy in India works because people are placed at the centre of governance. “We have democratised processes and technology to ensure that citizens’ aspirations are fulfilled without obstacles,” Modi said, adding that democratic values are deeply ingrained in India’s culture.
Calling India the “Mother of Democracy,” Modi cited historical examples of participatory governance, including references in the Vedas, ancient village assemblies, the Buddhist Sangha’s tradition of structured discussions, and a 10th-century Tamil Nadu inscription describing democratic village administration.
Om Birla’s call
Highlighting future challenges, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla spoke about the role of artificial intelligence and social media in strengthening democratic institutions, while cautioning against their misuse in spreading misinformation, cybercrime and social division.
Birla called for collective efforts to address these challenges and emphasised the need for ethical AI and accountable social media platforms.
The CSPOC 2026 conference is being held in New Delhi from January 14 to 16, bringing together parliamentary leaders from across the Commonwealth to discuss the evolving role of democratic institutions.
