2th BRICS Parliamentary Forum Begins in India: What to Expect From the Two-Day Meet

India Hosts 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum: Global Governance, AI and Climate Change on Agenda

The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is being held at the Parliament House Complex in New Delhi on October 26 and 27, bringing together parliamentary leaders from member and partner countries to discuss ways to strengthen legislative cooperation and promote people-centric development.

India is hosting the two-day gathering under the theme “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in the opening programme and interact with the heads of visiting parliamentary delegations.

Ahead of the forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held bilateral meetings with senior parliamentary leaders, including Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of Russia’s State Duma, to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation on international platforms.

India-Russia Parliamentary Ties in Focus
During his meeting with Volodin, Birla emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary relations through regular interactions between lawmakers and increased cooperation at multilateral forums such as BRICS.

The discussions covered counterterrorism, international cooperation and the longstanding partnership between India and Russia. Birla welcomed Moscow’s support for India’s efforts to combat terrorism and called for a collective international response to the challenge.

The two leaders also discussed reforms to the United Nations Security Council. Birla reiterated India’s demand for changes to the global body’s structure and expressed gratitude for Russia’s support for New Delhi’s bid for permanent membership.

Economic cooperation featured prominently in the talks, with both sides exploring opportunities in nuclear energy, industry, trade and agriculture. Volodin stressed the importance of encouraging joint business ventures and removing barriers to trade and investment.

The leaders also highlighted cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts as important elements of bilateral relations. India and Russia are scheduled to mark 80 years of diplomatic ties in 2027.

Birla called for regular meetings of the India-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Commission and greater participation by young and women lawmakers. He also highlighted India’s use of technology in parliamentary proceedings, including Sansad Bhashini, which aims to improve accessibility and make legislative processes more citizen-friendly.

Four Pillars of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum
With India holding the BRICS chairmanship in 2026, the forum will emphasise cooperation among national legislatures to address emerging global challenges.

The programme is structured around four themes: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.

Key issues for discussion include strengthening parliamentary institutions, ensuring the human-centred use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, reforming global governance structures and promoting sustainable development.

Counterterrorism and climate change are also among the challenges that Birla has highlighted as requiring stronger international cooperation.

A special meeting of chairpersons of international affairs committees from BRICS member and partner countries will focus on parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building and sharing effective legislative practices.

Parliamentary Delegations From Cuba, Egypt and Belarus Attend
In addition to his meeting with the Russian delegation, Birla held discussions with parliamentary representatives from Cuba, Egypt and Belarus on Sunday.

The forum’s programme includes plenary sessions, bilateral meetings, exchanges between lawmakers and a cultural programme. The Vice-President of India is also scheduled to host a banquet for the visiting delegations.

The two-day gathering is expected to provide a platform for participating countries to exchange views on parliamentary practices, strengthen institutional partnerships and explore coordinated responses to international challenges. The forum will conclude on October 27.