- India’s Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) won worldwide recognition during the 3rd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Heads Meeting in London.
What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
- The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organisation made up of 53 member nations, the majority of which are former British Empire possessions.
- It dates back to the early part of the twentieth century, when the British Empire decolonized its colonies by increasing self-government.
- The Balfour Declaration, issued during the Imperial Conference in 1926, established the British Commonwealth of Nations.
- The UK formalised it with the Statute of Westminster in 1931.
- The symbol of this free association is Queen Elizabeth II, who is the Head of the Commonwealth.
- Membership: Based on free and equal voluntary cooperation.
History of Its Creation
- The Commonwealth was formed in the early 1900s as nations that were once part of the British Empire began to split.
- India is a founding member of the modern Commonwealth.
- Although India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, played a crucial role in the establishment of the modern Commonwealth in 1949, Indian policymakers have long seen it as a vestige of empire with a colonial history.
Working of Commonwealth
- Commonwealth members have no legal duties towards one another.
- Instead, they are linked by language, history, culture, and common principles like as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Actual Functioning: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
- Every two years, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) provides a forum for all Commonwealth leaders to convene and address Commonwealth-related topics.
- The meeting’s slogan is to reaffirm common values, confront global concerns, and reach an agreement on how to work together to create a better future.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2018818#:~:text=The%20Commonwealth%20Secretariat%20has%20recognized,2024%20in%20Marlborough%20House%2C%20London.