News Desk
New Delhi — In a move reinforcing the growing institutional ties between India and the Maldives, the parliaments of both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), setting the stage for expanded collaboration in legislative affairs, digital transformation, and capacity-building efforts.
A high-level delegation, led by Speaker of the People’s Majlis Abdul Raheem Abdulla, was received at the Indian Parliament, where Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla welcomed them as “not only a friendly neighbor of India but also a key pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy and Vision SAGAR.” Addressing the Lok Sabha, Birla introduced the delegation, emphasizing that their presence reflected the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.
The visit included extensive discussions on parliamentary cooperation, with Speaker Abdul Raheem expressing particular interest in India’s advancements in legislative technology. The Indian Parliament has integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations, enabling digital efficiency, real-time data analysis, and simultaneous interpretation in 15 regional languages, set to expand to 22. Abdul Raheem noted that adopting similar innovations could help modernize the Majlis and requested India’s assistance in digitizing parliamentary archives. Birla assured his Maldivian counterpart that India would provide all possible support to aid the Majlis in its technological upgrade.
The Maldivian delegation also visited PRIDE (Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies), where Maldivian lawmakers and parliamentary staff have been receiving training in parliamentary procedures. Birla highlighted PRIDE’s role in fostering legislative expertise and expressed confidence that continued engagement would enhance the effectiveness of the Maldives’ parliamentary institutions.
The delegation toured the Parliament Library as well, where Abdul Raheem praised the state-of-the-art facilities, noting their role in supporting legislative research and efficiency, and hoped for the development of similar resources in the Maldives.
During the discussions, Birla emphasized India’s commitment to parliamentary democracy, noting that the country is celebrating 75 years of its Constitution. He described India’s robust committee system as a crucial pillar of governance, calling parliamentary committees “mini-parliaments” where critical budgetary and policy matters undergo in-depth scrutiny beyond the constraints of full-house debates.
The delegation was also briefed on how Indian parliamentary committees operate in a non-partisan manner to ensure rigorous oversight.
The two speakers also reflected on their previous meeting at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva last October, where they discussed expanding parliamentary cooperation. Birla reiterated that India and the Maldives share centuries-old cultural, economic, and trade relations, which have only strengthened in recent years. The signing of the MoU marks a formal step in institutionalizing these ties, creating a structured framework for legislative exchanges and collaboration.
The visit also saw Speaker Abdul Raheem and his delegation observing proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar joined Birla in welcoming the Maldivian delegation, further underscoring the bipartisan nature of India’s engagement with its island neighbor.
As relations between the two countries continue to evolve, particularly following President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to India last year, this parliamentary cooperation is expected to bolster bilateral ties at an institutional level. Both sides expressed optimism that the MoU would facilitate continued engagement, particularly in the areas of legislative training, technology adoption, and democratic governance.
With this agreement, India and the Maldives reaffirm their commitment to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, ensuring that legislative institutions in both nations remain resilient, transparent, and adaptive to technological advancements.
