Indian Parliamentary Delegation at 153rd IPU Assembly: Key Highlights

10 Oct Indian Parliamentary Delegation at 153rd IPU Assembly: Key Highlights

✎ The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments, established in 1889, which convenes the IPU Assembly twice annually to deliberate on issues of global governance, democracy, and sustainable…

Subject Relevance — Where This Topic Fits

• GS Paper II — International Relations — Parliament and State Legislatures — Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these  |  GS Paper II — International Relations — Important International Institutions, Agencies and Fora — their Structure, Mandate
• Prelims: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Parliamentary Diplomacy, Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Parliamentary Delegation, Arusha Declaration on IPU Principles, Functions of the IPU, Composition of IPU Assembly, Role of National Parliaments in IPU
• Essay: The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Shaping Global Governance, Multilateralism in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities for India

Quick Revision: The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments, established in 1889, which convenes the IPU Assembly twice annually to deliberate on issues of global governance, democracy, and sustainable development.

Why is this in the news?

This engagement is significant as it provides a platform for India to articulate its stance on global parliamentary cooperation, democratic governance, and sustainable development.

Background

• The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a global parliamentary body established in 1889, serving as the primary international organization of national parliaments. It currently comprises 178 member parliaments and 14 regional parliamentary assemblies.
• The IPU Assembly convenes twice annually, bringing together parliamentarians from member states to deliberate on issues of global governance, democracy, human rights, and sustainable development.
• India has been a founding member of the IPU since its inception and has consistently participated in its assemblies, reflecting its long-standing engagement with multilateral parliamentary institutions.
• The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, as the leader of the Indian delegation, represents the Indian Parliament’s institutional perspective on global parliamentary cooperation and democratic governance.
• Parliamentary diplomacy, as practiced through such delegations, complements traditional diplomatic efforts by fostering direct exchanges between legislatures, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation.

What is the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)?

• The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments, established in 1889 to promote peace and cooperation among nations through parliamentary diplomacy.
• Its primary functions include facilitating dialogue among parliamentarians, promoting democratic governance, and addressing global challenges such as climate change, gender equality, and human rights.
• The IPU Assembly is its principal decision-making body, convening twice annually, with each member parliament entitled to send a delegation of up to six parliamentarians.
• The IPU Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, supports the Assembly’s work and implements its resolutions and recommendations.
• The IPU plays a pivotal role in the development of international law, including the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, in collaboration with the United Nations.
• The IPU also serves as a platform for parliamentarians to exchange best practices, share legislative innovations, and address cross-border issues such as terrorism, cybersecurity, and migration.
• India’s participation in the IPU Assembly is facilitated through the Ministry of External Affairs and the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, ensuring a coordinated approach to parliamentary diplomacy.

UPSC Value Addition

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU):
1. The IPU is a global inter-parliamentary institution established in 1889.
2. It serves as the focal point for worldwide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and cooperation among nations.
3. The IPU Assembly is held annually and is attended exclusively by members of national governments.
4. India is a founding member of the IPU.
How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Answer: Only three — Statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect as the IPU Assembly is attended by members of national parliaments, not exclusively by members of national governments.

Q2. Assertion (A): The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha represents India in international parliamentary forums when the Chairman is unable to attend.
Reason (R): The Constitution of India explicitly vests the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha with the authority to delegate such representative functions to the Deputy Chairman.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: ? — Both the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha can delegate representative functions to the Deputy Chairman, as per established parliamentary conventions and rules.

Mains Practice Question

✍ The participation of Indian parliamentary delegations in international assemblies such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) serves as a critical instrument of parliamentary diplomacy. Critically examine the institutional significance of such engagements for India’s global standing and domestic parliamentary processes. (15 Marks)

Approach: MODEL-ANSWER SKELETON:
1. Introduction: Define parliamentary diplomacy and its role in modern international relations, highlighting India’s historical engagement with multilateral parliamentary platforms.
2. Institutional Significance for India’s Global Standing:
– Soft power projection: Demonstrate India’s democratic credentials and pluralistic traditions.
– Norm-setting and advocacy: Participation in shaping global parliamentary norms on issues like climate change, gender equality, and human rights.
– Bilateral and multilateral diplomacy: Strengthening ties with African nations (as in the IPU Assembly in Arusha) and other regions through legislative exchanges.
3. Domestic Parliamentary Processes:
– Capacity building: Exposure of Indian parliamentarians to global best practices in legislation and oversight.
– Accountability and transparency: Enhancing parliamentary scrutiny through comparative learning.
– Strengthening federalism: Engagement with regional parliamentary bodies to address sub-national concerns in international forums.
4. Challenges and Critiques:
– Limited impact on domestic policy: Assess whether such engagements translate into tangible domestic reforms.
– Resource constraints: Highlight the financial and logistical challenges of sustained participation.
– Representation gaps: Address concerns about inclusivity in delegation composition.
5. Conclusion: Balance the benefits of parliamentary diplomacy with the need for institutional reforms to maximize its potential. Suggest measures such as institutionalizing post-assembly debriefs and integrating outcomes into parliamentary committees.

Source: PIB (Press Information Bureau)

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