New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted India’s diversity as the cornerstone of its democratic success, asserting that the country has transformed its rich social and cultural variety into a source of political strength and inclusive governance. Addressing delegates at the 28th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC) at the Central Hall of Sanvidhan Sadan, Modi emphasized India’s role as a leader in the Global South, showcasing the country’s developmental achievements and technological innovations to an international audience.

Modi framed Indian democracy as a system defined by “last-mile delivery,” where the government’s focus is on ensuring that the benefits of development reach every citizen. “In India, democracy means last-mile delivery. We work for all, without any discrimination, in the spirit of public welfare. This spirit also helped lift 25 crore people out of poverty,” he said, underscoring the transformative power of inclusive governance.

Highlighting the effectiveness of India’s democratic institutions, Modi said, “In India, democracy delivers. That’s because here the people’s aspirations and hopes are given priority. To remove all hurdles in their way, we have democratised everything from process to technology. This democratic spirit is in our blood, mind and in our culture.” He elaborated that India’s democratic processes, far from being a barrier to development, have facilitated stability, speed, and scale in governance.

Positioning India as a champion of the Global South’s agenda, Modi said, “As the world is going through an unprecedented time, there is a need to make new roads for the Global South. In every global platform, India is steadfast in raising the issues that are beneficial to the Global South. During its G20 presidency, India brought the agendas of Global South to the centre of the international agenda. We want the global South and Commonwealth nations to benefit from our innovations.”

In a narrative that combined India’s historical struggle and contemporary achievements, Modi recalled the early skepticism surrounding the survival of democracy in a diverse nation. “When India won its freedom, there were doubts that democracy wouldn’t survive amid such diversity. But India turned this diversity into the power of democracy,” he said. He further added that India had also defied doubts regarding its developmental potential, proving that democratic institutions and processes can simultaneously ensure growth and stability.

Modi highlighted India’s remarkable economic and technological accomplishments. He cited India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, the home of the largest digital payment system through UPI, the largest vaccine producer globally, and the second-biggest steel producer. He also mentioned India’s thriving startup ecosystem, the fourth-largest rail network in the world, the third-largest metro network, and leadership in agricultural production, including being the biggest milk producer and the second-largest rice producer.

The Prime Minister also recalled India’s global contributions during crises, noting how the country supplied vaccines and medicines to over 150 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating both the scale of India’s capabilities and its commitment to international solidarity.

Turning to India’s electoral process, Modi drew attention to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, describing it as “the largest democratic exercise in human history,” with nearly 980 million registered voters, over 8,000 candidates, and more than 700 political parties participating. He likened India’s democratic system to a banyan tree, deep-rooted and expansive, reflecting resilience, inclusivity, and diversity. “Indian democracy is rich in diversity. Hundreds of languages are spoken, over 900 TV channels operate, and thousands of newspapers and periodicals are published. Very few societies can manage diversity at this scale. India celebrates such diversity because our democracy has a strong foundation,” Modi said.

He also highlighted India’s contribution to the Commonwealth, noting that half of the Commonwealth’s population resides in India, and emphasizing the country’s commitment to supporting development across member nations. “It has been our endeavour that India gives maximum contribution to the development of other countries. In the Commonwealth, we are fulfilling our commitments,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister’s remarks were part of the broader aim of the CSPOC conference, as outlined by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is piloting the event. Birla emphasized that the conference seeks to “strengthen democratic dialogue, cooperation and common values” among member nations. He also noted that India’s seven decades of independent governance had seen people-oriented policies and welfare laws that have empowered its democracy. “Our impartial election process has ensured participation of all Indians in the democratic process and it helped repose faith in democracy,” Birla added.

Modi’s speech was a clear effort to project India as a model of inclusive democracy capable of delivering development at scale while maintaining the country’s cultural and linguistic plurality. By highlighting India’s technological and governance innovations, he invited other Commonwealth and Global South nations to leverage India’s experiences and frameworks for their own growth and development.

Through his address, Modi underscored a dual message: first, that India’s internal diversity is not a challenge but a democratic strength, and second, that India is prepared to play a leadership role internationally, particularly in advocating for the Global South on issues of economic development, technology, and public welfare. The Prime Minister’s vision positions India as both a domestic success story of resilient democracy and a global partner committed to equitable development.

The 28th CSPOC, held at the historic Central Hall of Sanvidhan Sadan, brought together parliamentary leaders from across the Commonwealth to deliberate on shared democratic values, legislative practices, and cooperative initiatives. Modi’s emphasis on India’s achievements in governance, technology, healthcare, and infrastructure provided a practical framework for discussions on how other member nations might benefit from India’s innovations.

By connecting India’s democratic achievements to its economic and technological progress, Modi illustrated a model of governance where institutional strength, innovation, and inclusivity coalesce. His message stressed that democracy is not merely a political formality but a vehicle for societal transformation, capable of addressing inequality, facilitating mass development, and ensuring citizen participation in decision-making at scale.

The Prime Minister’s speech, attended by delegates from across the Commonwealth, reflected India’s intent to demonstrate leadership through example, emphasizing that effective democracy can coexist with rapid economic growth and technological advancement. Modi’s narrative reinforced the idea that India’s pluralistic society, far from being a hindrance, forms the backbone of a democratic system capable of delivering large-scale benefits while maintaining harmony among diverse communities.

In conclusion, Modi presented India’s democracy as a dynamic and inclusive system, deeply rooted in diversity yet capable of delivering rapid development and large-scale governance solutions. His address to the Commonwealth delegates underscored the lessons India offers to the Global South: that democratic institutions, when robustly implemented, can drive economic progress, social equity, and technological innovation while safeguarding the rights and aspirations of all citizens.

The CSPOC conference continues to provide a platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing, and Modi’s remarks set the tone for discussions on how member countries can draw inspiration from India’s governance, development strategies, and inclusive democratic practices.