On 3 July 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla launched a two‑day orientation programme for newly elected members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The event, organised by the Lok Sabha Secretariat in partnership with the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), aimed to improve the quality of legislative debate.
Key Developments
- Birla urged legislators to move beyond criticism and present practical solutions backed by facts and research.
- Emphasis on respectful, reasoned discourse even when opinions differ.
- Call for MLAs to become lifelong learners by studying past debates, landmark laws and best practices.
- Highlighting the role of technology, Birla promoted the Digital Sansad platform for research.
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari criticised previous state governments for operating from party offices rather than the Assembly.
- Attendance by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose and Opposition Leader Ritabrata Banerjee.
Important Facts
- About 180 first‑time MLAs constitute the current West Bengal Assembly, offering a chance for fresh ideas.
- The orientation runs for two days, concluding on 4 July 2026 with a valedictory address by Governor R.N. Ravi.
- Digital Sansad provides a repository of parliamentary knowledge, enabling comparative legislative studies.
Exam Relevance
The session underscores several themes that frequently appear in the UPSC