Polity · GS2.4, GS2.9, GS2.10 · 2026-10-26 · 3 min read · 2026-10-26-pm
12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum inaugurated in India to boost parliamentary cooperation
India hosted the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26-27 October 2026, focusing on strengthening parliamentary dialogue and cooperation among member and partner countries. This event is important for UPSC aspirants as it highlights India's role in multilateral parliamentary diplomacy and its efforts to address global challenges through parliamentary engagement.
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in India emphasized parliamentary diplomacy to enhance cooperation on global issues like terrorism, climate change, and institutional reforms.
Why is this in the news?
India hosted the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26-27 October 2026, with the Lok Sabha Speaker and Prime Minister engaging with parliamentary delegations to promote dialogue and cooperation.
What is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum and its focus?
- Forum overview. The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi, on 26-27 October 2026, to facilitate parliamentary dialogue among BRICS member and partner countries.
- Theme and sessions. The forum's overarching theme was 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development,' featuring four high-level sessions on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.
- Special meetings. A special meeting of Chairpersons of International Affairs Committees from BRICS parliaments was held to discuss parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building, and best practice exchanges.
How did India and Russia engage during the forum?
- Bilateral meeting. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held a bilateral meeting with Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin to discuss strengthening cooperation at global fora and combating terrorism.
- India-Russia ties. The two countries marked 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, with emphasis on their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and Russia's support for India's permanent UNSC membership.
- Parliamentary exchanges. Both sides stressed regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations, especially among young and women parliamentarians, and cooperation in trade, industry, and cultural spheres.
What global issues and initiatives were highlighted?
- Global challenges. The forum emphasized collective efforts to address terrorism, climate change, and the need to make international institutions more responsive to changing global circumstances.
- Institutional resilience and AI governance. Discussions included institutional resilience, AI governance, South-South cooperation, and sustainability, guided by the four pillars of India's 2026 BRICS Chairship.
- Parliamentary diplomacy. The forum aimed to strengthen parliamentary dialogue and cooperation to enhance global governance and development outcomes.
How does this forum impact India's parliamentary diplomacy and foreign policy?
- People-centric approach. India's BRICS Presidency in 2026 focused on a people-centric approach to guide parliamentary cooperation and development.
- Use of technology. India shared initiatives like Sansad Bhashini to make parliamentary proceedings more accessible, inclusive, and citizen-centric.
- Strengthening multilateralism. The forum reinforces India's role in multilateral parliamentary platforms to address global challenges and promote reforms in international institutions.
Key numbers
| Figure | What it measures | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 26-27 October 2026 | Dates of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in India | |
| 80 years | India-Russia diplomatic relations anniversary marked in 2027 | |
| 1.4 billion | Population of India represented at the forum |
Back to basics: Parliamentary diplomacy
Parliamentary diplomacy involves interactions between legislators of different countries to promote mutual understanding, cooperation, and peaceful resolution of issues. It complements traditional diplomacy by enabling dialogue on global challenges, sharing best practices, and fostering people-to-people contacts. Parliamentary forums like BRICS Parliamentary Forum provide platforms for such engagement among member countries.
Practice: MCQ, Mains and revision
Prelims MCQ
Consider the following statements about the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in India in 2026: 1. The forum focused on themes including Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability. 2. The forum was chaired by the Prime Minister of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer and trap
Answer: (a). Statement 2 is incorrect because the forum was inaugurated and led by the Lok Sabha Speaker, with the Prime Minister gracing the event but not chairing it.
Mains question (15 marks)
Discuss the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening international cooperation, with reference to the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in India.
Discuss: Explain how parliamentary diplomacy facilitates international cooperation using the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum as an example.
Intro: Parliamentary diplomacy complements traditional diplomacy by fostering dialogue and cooperation among legislators of different countries.
- The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in India focused on themes like resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, promoting consensus-based dialogue.
- Bilateral meetings, such as between India and Russia, highlighted cooperation on global challenges like terrorism and institutional reforms.
- India's use of technology and emphasis on people-centric approaches showcased efforts to make parliamentary processes more inclusive and effective.
- The forum strengthens multilateral parliamentary engagement, supporting India's foreign policy goals and global governance reforms.
Conclusion: Thus, parliamentary diplomacy through forums like BRICS enhances international cooperation and addresses contemporary global challenges.
Previous year question (2020, GS2)
Individual parliamentarian's role as the national lawmaker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely affected the quality of debates and their outcome. Discuss.
The forum exemplifies efforts to strengthen parliamentary dialogue and cooperation, which can improve the quality of debates and outcomes, addressing concerns about the decline in individual parliamentarians' roles.
Quick revision
- When and where was the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held?
- It was held on 26-27 October 2026 in the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
- What was the main theme of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
- The theme was 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development.'
- Which countries' parliamentary delegations did Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla meet ahead of the forum?
- He met delegations from Russia, Cuba, Egypt, and Belarus.
Sources
- [1] Press Information Bureau: 12TH BRICS PARLIAMENTARY FORUM TO BE INAUGURATED TOMORROW IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE COMPLEX · 2026-10-25 · official
- [2] Press Information Bureau: Prime Minister shares an article by Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla highlighting the role of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in strengthening parliamentary dialogue and cooperation · 2026-10-26 · official
- [3] Press Information Bureau: Prime Minister shares an article by Member, NITI Aayog and Former Cabinet Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba highlighting how PM Modi's 25 years in public office have reshaped infrastructure planning and delivery · 2026-10-26 · official
- [4] The Hindu: LS Speaker Om Birla meets counterparts from Cuba, Russia ahead of BRICS parliamentary forum meeting · 2026-10-25 · newspaper