AHEAD OF THE BUDGET SESSION, LOK SABHA SPEAKER SHRI OM BIRLA APPEALS TO LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES TO COOPERATE IN ENSURING SMOOTH FUNCTIONING OF THE HOUSE; CAUTIONS AGAINST PLANNED DISRUPTIONS

1. At a Glance

The 86th All India Presiding Officers' Conference (AIPOC) concluded at Lucknow on 21 Jan 2026; Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla used the valedictory address to appeal to all parties for smooth running of the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament and cautioned against planned disruptions [S1][S2].
Examinable for Parliamentary procedure, legislative effectiveness, federalism (Centre–State legislatures), and democratic decorum — all live themes for GS-II Polity.

2. Why in the News

86th AIPOC held at Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhavan, Lucknow, 19–21 January 2026, theme: "Strong Legislature–Prosperous Nation" [S2][S3].
Speaker announced preparation of a 'National Legislative Index' to make legislatures more effective and people-oriented [S1][S2].
Resolution to ensure a minimum of 30 sittings per year in State Legislatures [S1][S2].
Speaker called presiding officers "sentinels of the Constitution and custodians of democratic decorum" and invoked Viksit Bharat 2047 [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

AIPOC originated in 1921 at Shimla as the Conference of Presiding Officers of Legislative Bodies in India — apex consultative body of Indian legislatures [S4].
Linked historically to Vithalbhai Patel, first elected Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly (1925); centenary commemorated in 2025 [S4].
Held annually; previous editions: 85th – Patna, Bihar, January 2025; 82nd – addressed by PM, 2021; 80th – 2020 [S4].
86th edition is the largest so far, with 36 Presiding Officers from 24 States/UTs [S3].

4. Core Static Facts

Convening authority: Lok Sabha Speaker (Chairperson of AIPOC) — Shri Om Birla [S1].
Host (86th): UP Vidhan Sabha, Lucknow; dates: 19–21 Jan 2026 [S2][S3].
Theme: "Strong Legislature–Prosperous Nation" [S3].
Key proposals: National Legislative Index; minimum 30 sittings/year in State Legislatures; synergy on AI adoption in Parliament & State Legislatures (raised by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh) [S1][S5].
Constitutional anchors: Art. 93 (Speaker LS), Art. 178 (Speaker State Assembly), Art. 105/194 (privileges), Art. 85/174 (sessions), Anti-Defection — 10th Schedule (Speaker as adjudicator).
Budget Session 2026: convened shortly after AIPOC; Speaker's appeal aimed at preventing washouts [S1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal / Constitutional - Presiding Officers regulate House under Rules of Procedure framed under Art. 118 / 208; disruptions undermine Art. 75(3)/164(2) accountability of executive to legislature [S1]. - 10th Schedule places adjudicatory powers in Speaker — making decorum a constitutional duty.

Administrative / Governance - National Legislative Index to benchmark legislatures on sittings, productivity, committee work, member attendance — addresses falling sitting days (LS sat ~55 days/year in recent years vs. ~120 in the 1950s; PRS data context) [S1][S2]. - 30-sitting-floor for State Assemblies tackles the trend of states (e.g., several smaller states under 20 sittings/yr) functioning minimally.

Ethical - "Discussion and dialogue, not disruption" — invokes the Nolan principles of public life; planned disruption converts legislature into theatre, weakening deliberative democracy [S1].

Federalism - AIPOC institutionalises horizontal coordination among legislatures — a non-statutory cooperative-federal forum complementing Inter-State Council (Art. 263).

Scientific / Technological - 86th AIPOC highlighted AI adoption in legislative processes — digitisation of records, real-time translation, member services [S5].

Historical - From Shimla 1921 to Lucknow 2026 — AIPOC tracks the maturation of Indian parliamentary practice [S4].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

Jan 2025: 85th AIPOC, Patna [S4].
2025: Two-day All India Speakers' Conference at Delhi Assembly marking 100 years of Vithalbhai Patel as elected President of Central Legislative Assembly; inaugurated by HM Amit Shah [S4].
19 Jan 2026: 86th AIPOC inaugurated at UP Vidhan Bhavan, Lucknow [S2].
20 Jan 2026: Dy Chairman RS Harivansh called for Parliament–State synergy on AI adoption [S5].
21 Jan 2026: Valedictory; Speaker's appeal ahead of Budget Session; resolutions adopted [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

AIPOC was first held at Shimla in 1921 [S4].
86th AIPOC venue: UP Vidhan Bhavan, Lucknow; theme: Strong Legislature–Prosperous Nation [S3].
Chairperson of AIPOC by convention: Speaker of Lok Sabha [S1].
86th AIPOC saw participation of 36 Presiding Officers from 24 States/UTs — largest ever [S3].
A National Legislative Index announced at 86th AIPOC to evaluate legislatures [S1].
Recommended minimum 30 sittings/year for State Legislatures [S1].
85th AIPOC was hosted at Patna, Bihar (Jan 2025) [S4].
Vithalbhai Patel — first elected Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly (1925); centenary commemorated in 2025 [S4].
Article 93 (LS Speaker), Article 178 (State Assembly Speaker), Article 118/208 (Rules of Procedure).
Sessions summoned under Articles 85 (Parliament) and 174 (State Legislatures).
Anti-Defection adjudication by Speaker under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

8. Mains Relevance

GS-II: Parliament and State Legislatures — structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges; Devolution; Federalism.
Possible question stems: 1. "Frequent disruptions of Parliament reduce it from a deliberative body to a performative one." Examine, with reference to recent initiatives like the proposed National Legislative Index. 2. Discuss the role of Presiding Officers as 'custodians of democratic decorum' in the context of declining sitting days and anti-defection adjudication. 3. Evaluate the case for a constitutional/statutory floor on the number of sittings of State Legislatures.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule) — Speaker's role and SC rulings (Kihoto Hollohan, Keisham Meghachandra).
Inter-State Council (Art. 263) — analogous cooperative federalism body.
Parliamentary Committees — DRSCs, productivity metrics.
PRS Legislative Research data — sitting days, bill-passage time.
Office of the Speaker — Articles 93, 94, 95; rule-making power Art. 118.
Viksit Bharat @2047 — overarching policy vision invoked.
NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application) — digital legislatures programme under MoPA.
Privileges of legislatures — Arts 105, 194.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

AIPOC is not a constitutional/statutory body — purely a conference of presiding officers; do not confuse with Inter-State Council (Art. 263) or Zonal Councils.
86th AIPOC was at Lucknow (UP), not Patna — Patna hosted the 85th (2025).
The Speaker chairs AIPOC by convention; it is not chaired by the Vice-President/Rajya Sabha Chairman (though VP often inaugurates, e.g., 83rd edition).
"National Legislative Index" is an announced proposal at 86th AIPOC, not yet launched.
30-sitting recommendation is for State Legislatures, not Parliament (which already exceeds this).
Vithalbhai Patel was first elected Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly (1925) — not the Constituent Assembly.

11. Sources

[S1] PIB — Lok Sabha Speaker's valedictory at 86th AIPOC, appeal ahead of Budget Session — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2217013 — (tier: 1)
[S2] PIB — 86th AIPOC to begin at Lucknow on 19 January — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2215948 — (tier: 1)
[S3] DD News (Prasar Bharati) — Speaker Om Birla addresses 86th AIPOC at Lucknow — https://www.newsonair.gov.in/speaker-om-birla-addresses-86th-all-india-presiding-officers-conference-at-lucknow/ — (tier: 1)
[S4] PIB — Centenary of Vithalbhai Patel; All India Speakers' Conference (2025); also 85th AIPOC Patna — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2160341 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2094104 — (tier: 1)
[S5] PIB — Dy Chairman RS Harivansh on AI synergy at 86th AIPOC — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2216450 — (tier: 1)