Indian Delegation Attends 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

The 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is being held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13 to 19 September 2026. The Parliament of South Africa and the CPA South Africa Branch are hosting the conference under the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association framework.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is an annual gathering of parliamentarians from Commonwealth countries. The conference provides a forum for discussions on parliamentary democracy, legislative practice, and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

Indian Parliamentary Delegation

An Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, is participating in the 69th CPC. The delegation includes Members of Parliament from both Houses of Parliament and P. C. Mody, Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha.

Meetings and Conference Activities

On 15 September 2026, Shri Harivansh held bilateral meetings with Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly, Poobalan Govender, Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, and Annelie Lotriet, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Dr. D. Purandeswari, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, attended a meeting of the CPA Executive Committee on the same day. Vijender Gupta, Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, chaired a Joint Network Workshop on “Delivering Inclusivity Measures in Capacity Strained Parliaments”.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is organised under the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which links legislatures across Commonwealth countries.
• The 69th CPC is taking place in Cape Town, a major legislative and administrative centre in South Africa.
• The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, and the Lok Sabha is the Lower House.
• The National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces are the two Houses of the Parliament of South Africa.

Conference Theme

The main theme of the 69th CPC is “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership”. The theme places parliamentary democracy and international law within the Commonwealth framework.