Context: 

Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker led a Parliamentary Delegation (IPD) to the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, which was held from October 13th to October 17th, 2024.

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• The theme of the assembly is "Harnessing science, technology and innovation for a more peaceful and sustainable future"
• The Assembly adopted a resolution on the emergency item titled “Response by Parliamentarians to the urgent plea by the UN Secretary-General to recommit to multilateralism for global peace, justice, and sustainability.”
• A resolution on “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Democracy, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law,” was also adopted by the IPU. 

India’s Initiatives Highlighted by the Speaker

One Sun, One World, One Grid initiative: It was put forward by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, at the First Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in October 2018. 

• To connect different regional grids through a common grid that will be used to transfer renewable energy power and, thus, realize the potential of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy.

India's significant increase in renewable energy capacity and the various initiatives aimed at addressing climate issues. 

India’s position as the third-largest start-up nation globally with 118 Unicorns, with a valuation of more than US $ 355 billion.

India’s advancements in digital governance, particularly through the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhar, Mobile). This initiative has facilitated the transfer of approximately ₹2.5 trillion via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) across 314 welfare schemes.

India’s recent legislative initiatives, such as Digital Sansad, which enhance governance efficiency and transparency.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

• The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments founded in 1889.
• IPU was founded on the initiative of two parliamentarians and men of peace, William Randal Cremer (United Kingdom) and Frédéric Passy (France).
• It was the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations.
• IPU empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world. 
• The IPU's headquarters have been based in Geneva, Switzerland since 1921.
• Currently, IPU has 181 member parliaments and 15 associate members. 
• Jamaica became the 181st member of the IPU during the Assembly.
• The 150th assembly of IPU is to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in April 2025. 

List of Assemblies held in India:

• 57th New Delhi (India) 1969.
• 89th New Delhi (India) 1993.