🏛️ Polity
India hosts the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi
In 60 seconds: India hosted the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26–27 October at Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated it under the theme 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development'. He said parliaments can be bridges of understanding and help ease international tensions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met the visiting delegations.
Why it matters
BRICS now speaks for a large share of the world's people. Hosting its lawmakers lets India push the Global South's agenda during its chairship.
Explain it simply
Leaders of chai sellers' unions from ten towns meet to share ideas. Their deals still need each town's own committee to pass them. Parliaments play that role for BRICS.
The 3-minute read
What happened
The two-day forum for member and partner parliaments was built on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. The Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman also addressed it. Iran's Speaker did not attend; a parliamentary delegation came instead.
Background
Birla called the BRICS Summit's joint statement a landmark and said the real challenge is turning commitments into outcomes. He cited conflicts, trade tensions, terrorism and climate change as shared challenges.
How it works
Birla said parliaments turn commitments into action through laws, budgets, debate and oversight, and should listen to young people. He described the Prime Minister's vision of BRICS as an 'ecosystem of solutions'.
What's next
India's BRICS chairship continues through 2026, with more ministerial and sectoral meetings ahead.
What it means for you
BRICS cooperation shapes trade, payments and development funding that reach Indian businesses and students.
Key numbers
- 12th: Edition of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum
- 4: Pillars of the forum
- 2 days: Length of the forum (26–27 Oct)
Both sides
- India: Parliaments can ease tensions and turn BRICS commitments into results.
- Sceptics: BRICS members differ widely, so joint statements are hard to act on.
Key terms explained
- BRICS
- A group of major emerging economies, now with ten members.
- Samvidhan Sadan
- The old Parliament House building in New Delhi.
The story so far
- 2026: India hosts the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. India chairs BRICS in 2026. A joint statement was adopted unanimously at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi under the Prime Minister's chairmanship.
- Today: Delhi hosts BRICS Parliamentary Forum
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- BRICS began with Brazil, Russia, India and China; South Africa joined in 2010.
- BRICS expanded from 2024 with new members including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE.
- The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha.
- Samvidhan Sadan is the old Parliament building in New Delhi.
Likely exam question: What is the role of parliamentary diplomacy in groupings like BRICS?