Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the 28th Commonwealth Conference of Presidents and Presiding Officers at Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi on January 15, 2026. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Emphasizing that democracy is delivering in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Jan 15, 2026) said the nation has shown the world that democratic institutions and processes give stability, speed and scale to its development.
Democracy has yielded results in India because the people of the country were at the center of governance sir. Modi said he was inaugurating the 28th Commonwealth Presidents and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC) in New Delhi.
India has turned diversity into a strength of its democracy, he added.
“In India, democracy means last mile delivery,” he said, adding that social measures taken by the government in the spirit of public welfare reach every individual without discrimination. “Because of this spirit of prosperity, 25 million people have been lifted out of poverty in recent years. It brings democracy to India.”
The prime minister recalled that when India gained independence, many doubted whether democracy could survive amid the country’s vast diversity.
“However, it is this diversity that has become the strength of Indian democracy,” he said.
“Contrary to these doubts, India has demonstrated that democratic institutions and processes provide stability, scale and speed to its development,” he said.
CSPOC, which is being hosted by India for the fourth time, is attended by about 61 speakers and presiding officers from 42 Commonwealth countries.
CSPOC discusses a wide range of contemporary parliamentary issues, including the role of Speakers and Speakers in maintaining strong democratic institutions.
Mr. Modi said when India achieved independence, fears were expressed that democracy would not survive in a country with such diversity. Emphasizing that India has turned this very diversity into the strength of its democracy, he further noted that another major concern is that even if democracy survives in India, development would not be possible.
“India has demonstrated that democratic institutions and democratic processes provide democracy with stability, speed and scale,” he said.
“In India, democracy means last mile delivery,” he said, adding that India works in the spirit of public welfare and ensures that benefits reach every individual without discrimination.
He emphasized that this spirit of prosperity has lifted 25 million people out of poverty in recent years. “Democracy brings in India.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the scale of Indian democracy is truly extraordinary. Referring to the general elections held in 2024, he emphasized that it was the biggest democratic exercise in human history.
Published – 15 Jan 2026 19:43 IST
