Gandhinagar: To celebrate the centenary year of All India Presiding Officers Conference, this year the Conference is being held in Kevadia, Gujarat on 25-26 November. The Conference will be inaugurated by President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind on 25 November 2020 at 11 am. Vice President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will also attend. Speaker, Lok Sabha and Chairperson of the Conference Shri Om Birla will grace the two day event. Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat; Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani and other dignitaries will also attend the Conference.

Presiding Officers of all State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils have been invited to the Conference. 27 Presiding Officers of State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils have confirmed their participation. Secretaries of State Legislatures and other senior officials are also expected to join. Gujarat is the birth place of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who fought for freedom against tyranny & oppression.

The State is also the birth place of Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, who welded the nation together, which was hitherto divided into more than five hundred princely states. Gujarat is also home to the world’s largest statue, the Statute of Unity. It is a symbol of India’s unity and territorial integrity.

26 November is an important date in India’s democratic history, as this day is celebrated as Constitution Day. This year is also being celebrated as the centenary year of the Presiding Officers Conference. The All India Presiding Officers Conference began in 1921. Through the years, this Conference has proven to be a platform for sharing new experiences, ideas and thoughts for strengthening the democratic process.

The Theme for this year’s Conference is “Harmonious Coordination between Legislature, Executive and Judiciary- Key to a Vibrant Democracy.”

During this Conference, the Presiding Officers of the Legislatures shall discuss the need for better cooperation and coordination between the three pillars of democracy in order to strengthen Indian democracy and to make it more effective.

The conference will also discuss ways to ensure effective constitutional accountability of the legislature and the executive to the people. The Conference will also discuss issues related to the working of the Legislatures in a disciplined and orderly fashion.

The two day Conference will conclude on 26 November on the occasion of Constitution Day. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will address the concluding session.

All delegates at the Conference will also recite the Preamble to the Constitution of India under the leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.

Additionally, all Presiding Officers and Secretaries of Legislatures shall take a pledge to make legislatures more accountable, while strengthening and empowering them according to constitutional values. The Conference will conclude with the adoption of a Declaration.

The biggest highlight of the conference is that the President of India is attending a public event for the first time this year.

During the Conference, an exhibition on the Constitution and Fundamental Duties is also being organised. This exhibition shall be open to public for one week after the conclusion of the Conference. People will not only come to know more about the Constitution but also understand their duties. Prime Minister shall attend the Presiding Officers Conference for the first time.

A number of presentations have been organized by the participating State legislatures.