Role of the Indian Parliamentary Group
M.N. Kaul and S.L. Shakdher eloquently capture the rationale behind the Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG), emphasizing its role in fostering vital connections among the world's legislatures. They note that building and nurturing inter-parliamentary relations has long been a core function of national parliaments. In recent years, however, this effort has gained renewed momentum amid growing global interdependence. As nations' fates intertwine, parliamentarians must unite to protect democracy, tackle shared challenges collaboratively, and transform them into opportunities for peace and prosperity at home and abroad.
These forums allow lawmakers from diverse regions and systems—whether from established or emerging parliaments—to convene, exchange ideas, and devise solutions to common issues. Unlike inter-governmental summits, where discussions often remain guarded and formal, these parliamentary gatherings encourage frank, open dialogue, enabling a rich cross-fertilization of perspectives.
In today's world, rife with urgent crises, such inter-parliamentary ties are more crucial than ever. A challenge facing one legislature today could soon test another. India sustains these global links through the IPG, which facilitates delegation exchanges, goodwill missions, correspondence, and document sharing with foreign parliaments. Functioning as both India's National Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the India Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the IPG serves as a dynamic bridge between legislatures worldwide.
Composition of the Indian Parliamentary Group
The Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG) stands as an autonomous body, established in 1949 following a motion passed by the Constituent Assembly (Legislative). This foundational step marked India's early commitment to fostering parliamentary diplomacy on the global stage.
Membership in the IPG is inclusive, extending to all current Members of Parliament, who enjoy full privileges. Former MPs may join as associate members, though their rights are curtailed: they cannot represent the group at meetings or conferences of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) or the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), nor do they qualify for the travel concessions offered by select CPA branches.
Leadership of the IPG reflects the parliamentary hierarchy. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha serves as the ex officio President, while the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha act as ex officio Vice-Presidents. The Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha fulfills the role of ex officio Secretary-General, ensuring seamless administrative coordination.
Objectives of the Group
The Group is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections among Members of Parliament in India, primarily by promoting personal interactions that strengthen parliamentary camaraderie. It also focuses on examining pressing issues of public importance likely to arise in Parliament, organizing seminars, discussions, and orientation courses, and publishing materials to inform and equip its members.
Beyond these efforts, the Group arranges insightful lectures on key topics such as politics, defense, economics, social matters, and education, delivered by fellow parliamentarians and eminent experts. Additionally, it facilitates international visits to build enduring ties with legislators from other nations, enhancing global parliamentary dialogue.
Functions of the India Parliamentary Group
The India Parliamentary Group (IPG) serves as a vital bridge between the Parliament of India and parliaments worldwide. It fosters these connections through exchanges of delegations, goodwill missions, correspondence, and documents with foreign legislatures. As the official National Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the principal branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in India, the Group plays a central role in advancing India's parliamentary diplomacy.
Among its key activities, the IPG arranges addresses to Parliament members by visiting Heads of State and Government from other countries, as well as talks by eminent personalities. It also organizes periodic seminars and symposia on pressing parliamentary topics, both at the national level and internationally. To support its members' international engagements, the Group issues letters of introduction to secretaries of IPU National Groups and CPA branches abroad. It further notifies Indian missions in those countries, ensuring members receive necessary assistance and courtesies during their visits.
Eligibility for delegations is strictly regulated: only IPG members with at least six months' standing at the time of delegation formation may participate in Indian parliamentary missions to foreign countries. Keeping members informed is another priority; the Group publishes a quarterly IPG Newsletter, distributed regularly to all members, including associates, to maintain a steady flow of updates on its activities.
In 1995, following a Group decision, the IPG instituted the annual Outstanding Parliamentarian Award. A committee of five, appointed by the Lok Sabha Speaker, handles nominations and selections. To strengthen bilateral ties, the Group establishes Parliamentary Friendship Groups with other nations. These groups promote political, social, and cultural contacts while facilitating the exchange of information and experiences on parliamentary matters.
The Indian Parliamentary Group and the Inter-Parliamentary Union
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) stands as a premier global forum uniting the parliaments of 153 sovereign nations. Established to promote peace and cooperation among peoples, it champions the strengthening of representative democracy worldwide. By facilitating contacts, coordination, and the exchange of experiences among parliamentarians, the IPU deepens understanding of how legislatures function across borders. It also voices collective parliamentary perspectives on pressing international issues, advocating for effective action and enhancements to the efficiency of global institutions.
India participates through its Indian Parliamentary Group, the country's national arm of the IPU, which unlocks significant benefits for its members. Primarily, it enables Indian parliamentarians to forge enduring connections with counterparts from IPU member states during delegations and conferences. These gatherings offer invaluable insights into ongoing political reforms and transformations in parliaments around the world. The Group further streamlines interactions, whether Indian members are traveling abroad or hosting visiting parliamentarians in New Delhi. Most notably, it qualifies members to join official Indian delegations to international IPU meetings, providing opportunities for immersive global engagement.
In recent years, the Group's influence has grown markedly, with its members securing key roles in IPU bodies—such as committee office-bearers, rapporteurs, and chairs of drafting committees. Through these positions, they have adeptly advanced India's stance on critical global matters, amplifying the nation's voice in parliamentary diplomacy.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and Its Indian Branch
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) unites around 17,000 parliamentarians from 175 national, state, provincial, and territorial parliaments across the globe. Its core objectives center on fostering knowledge and understanding of constitutional, legislative, economic, social, and cultural systems within parliamentary democracies, with a special focus on Commonwealth nations and those sharing close historical and parliamentary ties. Through these efforts, the CPA advances parliamentary democracy by deepening insights into democratic governance, cultivating an informed community of legislators, and strengthening cooperation among Commonwealth parliaments and legislatures.
In India, the Indian Parliamentarians' Group serves as the principal branch of the CPA, offering its members a range of invaluable benefits that enhance professional development and international collaboration. Foremost among these is access to high-level conferences, seminars, plenary sessions, regional gatherings, delegation exchanges, and study visits, which allow participants to engage directly with global parliamentary practices.
Members also receive key publications at no cost, including the quarterly journal The Parliamentarian—a rich source of insights on parliamentary affairs—and the bimonthly newsletter First Reading, keeping them abreast of the latest developments. Complementing this, the CPA Secretariat's Parliamentary Information and Reference Centre delivers tailored information on parliamentary procedures, constitutional issues, and Commonwealth matters, serving as a vital resource for informed decision-making.
For those traveling abroad, the CPA network provides practical support: branches facilitate introductions to local parliamentarians in other jurisdictions, extend parliamentary courtesies such as access to debates and facilities, and often prioritize members during visits to Commonwealth countries. Additionally, select branches organize annual study tours for a quota of members to explore political and procedural innovations elsewhere, while others arrange spontaneous exchanges, broadening perspectives on democratic practices worldwide.