India Hosts 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum to promote people-centric development and parliamentary diplomacy among member and partner nations.
The Parliament of India hosted the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on October 26 and 27, 2026, at the Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi. Under the theme "Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development," the event gathered delegations from 11 member nations and 10 partner countries to discuss legislative resilience, sustainable development, and the role of artificial intelligence in governance.
Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Chairman of the Forum, inaugurated the event by emphasizing that parliamentary diplomacy is essential for reducing international tensions and resolving global challenges like terrorism and climate change. Prior to the opening, Birla held bilateral meetings with delegations from Russia, Cuba, Egypt, and Belarus. In talks with Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, the two leaders focused on combating global terrorism and reforming the United Nations Security Council.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended as a special guest, meeting with visiting heads of delegations to champion a "people-centric and humanity-first" vision for the bloc. Other Indian officials, including Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and MP Shashi Tharoor, highlighted the forum's role in amplifying the voice of the Global South and providing a more informal, effective dialogue than traditional government-to-government relations.
The forum featured high-level sessions on innovation and sustainability, with participants like Himachal Pradesh Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania advocating for the increased representation of women and youth in decision-making. The event concluded on October 27 with the adoption of a Joint Statement and the transfer of the forum's chairmanship to China.
