Noting that India's leadership is offering decisive solutions to global challenges and that the world today looks towards India for direction, stability and inspiration, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Thursday that maintaining the dignity, credibility and prestige of parliamentary institutions in the eyes of the people must remain a paramount priority for all democracies.

The Speaker made the remarks in his welcome address at the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the conference in the iconic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.

Birla drew attention to rapid technological transformations reshaping societies and governance, observing that artificial intelligence and social media have enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of democratic institutions. However, he cautioned that their misuse has also led to concerns such as misinformation, cybercrime and social polarisation.

He said it is a collective responsibility of legislatures to engage seriously with these challenges and evolve appropriate solutions, underscoring the importance of ethical AI and credible, transparent and accountable social media frameworks to safeguard democratic values.

Highlighting India’s experience, Birla said the use of AI and digital technologies is steadily increasing in the Parliament of India and State Legislatures, with institutions being progressively made paperless and integrated through a unified digital platform to improve transparency, efficiency and accessibility.

He noted that through collective efforts of Parliament and the government, India has repealed obsolete laws, enacted welfare-oriented legislation and framed policies aligned with public aspirations, accelerating progress towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation.

Reflecting on over seven decades of India’s parliamentary journey, Birla said democratic institutions have been strengthened through people-centric policies, welfare legislation and a robust electoral system, deepening public faith in democracy.

Emphasising the role of Commonwealth parliamentary forums, he said such platforms bring together presiding officers from diverse democracies to deliberate on global issues and stressed the importance of collective wisdom in addressing evolving legislative challenges.

Welcoming delegates, Birla said the presence of Prime Minister Modi at the inaugural ceremony was a matter of pride, noting that under his leadership India has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

He said the conference symbolises a shared commitment to strengthening democratic dialogue and cooperation, providing an opportunity to exchange best practices to reinforce parliamentary democracy across the Commonwealth.

Birla said the conference would deliberate on the principles of impartiality and fairness of presiding officers, enhancing public trust and credibility of parliaments.

He expressed optimism that the discussions would help identify collective solutions, improve parliamentary procedures, deepen public participation and strengthen citizens’ trust in democratic institutions.

CSPOC has brought together Speakers and Presiding Officers of 53 national parliaments of Commonwealth countries, with 61 presiding officers attending the 28th conference.