Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is leading the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, scheduled to take place in Geneva from 13–17 October 2024. The high-level delegation includes senior parliamentarians and officials: Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; Bhartruhari Mahtab, MP; Anurag Singh Thakur, MP; Rajeev Shukla, MP; Vishnu Dayal Ram, MP; Ms. Aparajita Sarangi, MP; Dr. Sasmit Patra, MP; Ms. Mamata Mohanta, MP; Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary-General, Lok Sabha; and P. C. Mody, Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha.
The delegation will represent India at one of the world’s most significant global parliamentary forums.
(Hon’ble Speaker Om Birla is the Speaker of LokSabha, the lower House of Indian Parliament. He is elected for second time for this office. A third term Member of Parliament, Mr. Birla is known for his way to handle the all the parties in the house in manner that even the opposition members agreed on his fairness in parliamentary proceedings.)
(Second term as Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament), Hon’ble MP Harivansh has been in active journalism for around four decades; Written/Edited several books)
(MP Bhartruhari Mahtab is the seventh term MP of LokSabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament) & Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, is known for his sharp, intellectual participation in parliamentary debates.)
( MP Dr. Sasmit Patra is the second term MP in Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament), Nominated to the Panel of Vice-Chairpersons, Rajya Sabha)
(MP Rajeev Shukla is the fourth term MP, Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament), served the Indian Government as Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs & Minister of State in the Ministry of Planning (Additional Charge), recently Nominated to the Panel of Vice-Chairpersons, Rajya Sabha)
(MP Vishnu Dayal Ram, a police officer turned Parliamentarian is the third term MP, LokSabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament) was the highest rank police official before joining the Indian Parliament.)
(MP Anurag Singh Thakur, a fifth term MP has served the Union Cabinet as Union Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; and Union Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports; Union Minister of State, Ministry of Finance; and Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
(MP Aparajita Sarangi, the second term MP was a civil servant turned Parliamentarian)
(MP Mamata Mohanta is a second term MP from the Upper House of the Indian Parliament)
(SG Utpal Kumar Singh, is the Secretary General of LokSabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament), was the highest level civil servent before heading Parliament Secretariat.)
Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla will address the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly on the theme “Harnessing science, technology and innovation for a more peaceful and sustainable future.” During the event, he will also participate in the meetings of the IPU Governing Council, the organization’s highest decision-making body.
Members of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation are scheduled to join sessions of the Executive Committee, the four Standing Committees, and several other key meetings and working groups throughout the conference. Shri Birla will additionally hold bilateral discussions with parliamentary counterparts from various countries on the sidelines of the Assembly.
As part of his visit, Shri Birla will address the Indian diaspora in Geneva on 14 October 2024.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union currently consists of 180 member parliaments and 15 associate members, representing nations of all sizes—from major countries such as China, India, and Indonesia to smaller states like Cabo Verde, San Marino, and Palau.