Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday urged political parties to set aside differences and ensure the smooth functioning of the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament. He made these remarks while interacting with the media at the conclusion of the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC), held at the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhavan in Lucknow. Responding to questions on maintaining order during the Budget Session, Birla said that deliberate and repeated disruptions in the House are detrimental to democracy. He noted that when proceedings are obstructed, the greatest loss is borne by the citizens. Emphasising the need to uphold democratic traditions, he said the focus should be on discussion and dialogue rather than disruption.

Appealing to leaders and Members of all political parties, the Lok Sabha Speaker called for collective cooperation to ensure productive functioning of Parliament. He stressed that in a democracy, the people are supreme and that public representatives are accountable to citizens not only during elections, but at all times. Birla also highlighted the role of Presiding Officers, describing them as sentinels of the Constitution and custodians of democratic decorum. He said their impartiality, sensitivity and firmness play a crucial role in shaping the direction and dignity of legislative proceedings.

The 86th AIPOC, held from January 19 to 21, 2026, concluded successfully on Wednesday. The concluding session was addressed by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, and the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. In his valedictory address, Birla announced that a ‘National Legislative Index’ would be developed to make legislatures more effective, people-centric and accountable. He said a committee has been constituted to prepare the index, which will encourage healthy competition among legislatures and improve the quality of debate and efficiency across the country.

The Lok Sabha Speaker also advocated for a minimum of 30 sittings annually in State Legislatures, stating that increased sittings would enable more meaningful, serious and result-oriented discussions and better reflect public aspirations. Birla informed that six key resolutions were adopted during the conference. These include recommitting Presiding Officers to the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, ensuring at least 30 sittings per year in State Legislatures through consensus, greater use of technology to improve legislative functioning, strengthening democratic values, enhancing capacity building and research support for legislators, and the creation of the National Legislative Index for objective performance evaluation.

The three-day conference featured plenary discussions on leveraging technology for transparent and citizen-centric legislative processes, capacity building of legislators, and enhancing accountability of legislatures to the public. A total of 36 Presiding Officers from 24 States and Union Territories participated, making it the largest AIPOC in terms of participation so far. Birla said such platforms promote institutional cooperation, strengthen coordination, and contribute to more effective governance. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the State Legislature, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats, and all participating Presiding Officers and delegates for the successful organisation of the conference, describing the 86th AIPOC as an important step towards strengthening Indian parliamentary democracy.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from LokSabhaSecretariat.