Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India is forcefully advocating for the interests of the Global South across all international forums, ensuring that the concerns of developing nations remain central to global decision-making.
Addressing the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) 2026 at Parliament House, PM Modi highlighted India’s role during its G20 presidency, noting that the country placed Global South priorities at the core of the global agenda. He said India is committed to ensuring that its innovations benefit not only its own citizens but also Commonwealth and Global South nations.
“India is strongly advocating for the interests of the Global South on every global platform. During its G20 presidency, India placed the concerns of the Global South at the heart of the global agenda,” the Prime Minister said. He added that India is developing open-source technology platforms to enable partner countries to build systems similar to those implemented domestically.
Emphasising the inclusive character of Indian democracy, PM Modi said it is defined by its focus on last-mile delivery and public welfare. He noted that this approach has helped lift nearly 25 crore people out of poverty in recent years. “In India, democracy truly delivers. Democracy means last-mile delivery,” he said, underscoring that welfare initiatives are implemented without discrimination.
Reflecting on the scale of India’s democratic exercise, the Prime Minister described the 2024 general elections as the largest in human history, with nearly 980 million registered voters, over 8,000 candidates and more than 700 political parties. He also highlighted increased participation by women voters and noted that women now occupy key leadership roles, including the President of India and the Chief Minister of Delhi.
PM Modi further spoke about India’s deep-rooted democratic traditions, calling Indian democracy “a large tree supported by deep roots.” He referred to ancient texts such as the Vedas and the teachings of the Buddha, which mention assemblies and collective decision-making, underscoring India’s long-standing culture of debate and dialogue.
He concluded by stating that India’s democratic model—marked by scale, inclusivity and public welfare—remains committed to national development while advancing the interests of developing countries globally.
The high-level CSPOC conference, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, is being attended by 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth countries, along with representatives from four semi-autonomous parliaments. The conference will deliberate on key parliamentary issues, including the role of technology in legislatures, citizen engagement, the impact of social media, and the use of artificial intelligence in parliamentary processes, with the aim of strengthening democratic institutions worldwide.