Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has approved the formation of parliamentary friendship groups with more than 60 countries. Big leaders from the ruling party and the opposition have been included in these groups. Through these groups, Parliament to Parliament and people to people connect with the countries of the world will be promoted. Even after Operation Sindoor, the government had sent similar delegations to many countries of the world.

These prominent MPs have been included
Parliamentarians from different political parties have been included in these friendship groups, thereby attempting to present the multi-party and inclusive nature of Indian democracy on the global stage. Prominent MPs include Ravi Shankar Prasad, P. Chidambaram, Ram Gopal Yadav, T.R. Many senior leaders including Balu, Gaurav Gogoi, Kanimozhi, Manish Tiwari, Derek O’Brien, Asaduddin Owaisi, Akhilesh Yadav, Supriya Sule, Shashi Tharoor and Anurag Thakur are included.

With which countries have these friendship groups been formed?
The countries with which these friendship groups have been formed include Sri Lanka, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Maldives, USA, Russia, European Parliament, South Korea, Nepal, UK, France, Japan, Italy, Oman, Australia, Greece, Singapore, Brazil, Vietnam, Mexico, Iran and UAE.

What is the purpose?
The purpose of these groups is to increase direct communication between MPs, exchange legislative experiences and deepen bilateral relations. Through this, coordinated dialogue will also be promoted on diverse issues like trade, technology, social policy, culture and global challenges. Through these groups, parliamentary diplomacy will emerge as an effective platform parallel to traditional diplomacy that will strengthen ‘Parliament-to-Parliament’ and ‘people-to-people’ contacts.

In the first phase, friendship groups have been formed with more than 60 countries, while preparations are on to include more countries in the coming time. This initiative is considered important towards establishing parliamentary participation as a permanent and strong pillar in India’s diplomatic strategy.

On the occasion of National Voters’ Day 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given an inspiring message to the countrymen, especially the youth, connecting them with democracy. The Prime Minister said that becoming a voter is not just a constitutional right, but it should be a matter of pride and celebration. He believes that when a youth becomes a voter for the first time, that moment should be celebrated happily with the society and family. Prime Minister Modi shared this message on social media platform X. He told that he has written a special letter to the volunteers associated with MY Bharat, in which an appeal has been made to make the first voting experience of the youth memorable.

While wishing National Voters’ Day, PM Modi said that India is called the world’s largest democracy not only because of its population, but also because of its deep democratic traditions. He said that India is considered the mother of democracy, where dialogue, debate and public participation have been a part of social life for centuries. The Prime Minister reminded that the first general elections in the country were held in 1951. After this, every election proved that India’s democracy has continuously become stronger. He said that every election reflects the democratic consciousness of the Indian society.

PM Narendra Modi tweets, “Becoming a voter is an occasion of celebration! Today, on National Voters Day, I penned a letter to MY-Bharat volunteers about how we must rejoice when someone around us enrolls as a voter.” pic.twitter.com/r28KauAqka

— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2026

Why becoming a voter is a big responsibility

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his message that voting is not only a right but also a responsibility to decide the future of the country. He said that the voter is the soul of democracy. The indelible ink on the finger is not just a mark, but it is a symbol that the citizen of the country is participating in the democratic process. According to PM Modi, one vote has the power to change the direction of the country. Therefore, every citizen should use his franchise wisely.

Appeal to celebrate becoming a voter for the first time

The Prime Minister especially emphasized on the youth becoming voters for the first time. He said that when a youth becomes a voter for the first time, it is an important moment in his life. This occasion should be celebrated with joy at home, locality or society, so that the youth realizes how important his role is for the country. He said that such small efforts strengthen the respect and connection for democracy among the youth.

Schools and colleges should play an important role

In the context of National Voters’ Day 2026, Prime Minister Modi also described the role of schools and colleges as important. He said that educational institutions lay the foundation of democratic values. If the importance of voting and civic responsibilities is explained to the youth from there, then democracy will become stronger. He suggested that educational institutions should play an active role in voter registration drives, so that no eligible youth is deprived of the right to vote.

India votes in every situation

The Prime Minister said that whether the citizens of India live in the mountains, on islands or in remote areas, they vote in every situation. This is the biggest strength of Indian democracy. He called it an inspiration for the coming generations.

Emphasis on women power and youth participation

PM Modi said that the role of women power and youth in strengthening democracy is continuously increasing. Especially the increasing participation of young women has further strengthened the democratic process. He appealed to the youth to actively participate in nation building by joining the MY Bharat platform.

Also read: ‘He is not a big part of Congress’, what did Imran Masood say on the rift between Shashi Tharoor and the party?

Sunita williams on india: Indian -origin astronaut Sunita Williams returned to Earth on 19 March 2025 in SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. He and his partner Buch Wilmore went to space on 5 June 2024 from the Starlineer spacecraft of Boeing. Since then, both passengers were stranded on space for 9 months. Sunita Williams gave an interview on Monday (31 March), in which she shared her experience spent in space.

During the interview, he was questioned about India, on which he said that India looks quite beautiful from space. Whenever his spacecraft passed over the Himalayas, he got to see incredible scenes. He described it as amazing and said that this scene settled in his heart.

Sunita Williams appreciated India as a great country and a wonderful democracy. He told that his attachment to India is deep, because his father is from India. He said, “I am sure I will go back to my father’s country.” These emotional views of Sunita about their association with India reflect the deep understanding of her Indian roots.

Space -rich colors and scenes of India
Talking about the rich colors seen from space, Sunita especially discussed the amazing view of Gujarat and Mumbai. He said that the network of gleaming lights in these cities looks very beautiful. Spread from big cities to small cities, this light offers a wonderful mix of Indian civilization and modernity.

India’s growing space role and Sunita’s enthusiasm
Sunita Williams also expressed her happiness about the growing role in India’s space field. Referring to India’s cooperation with private space undertakings, he said that he is very excited for an Indian astronaut going into space with the AXIOM mission. This statement indicates the achievements of the development and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in India’s space sector, which are being appreciated internationally.